I find xenon such an interesting element. Before I came to university, I believed it was the most mundane of all the periodic table, barely any reactivity, colourless, nothing special really... However, since my studies have begun I have learnt that xenon has more to offer.
Through history, it has surprised chemists with it's sometimes, literally, explosive reactivity as it forms unstable fluoride compounds. Still, xenon alone can't do much, right?
Wrong. Recent studies have shown that when inhaled, xenon gas has the potential to erase fearful memories in mice. Although in early stages of trial, this is an amazing breakthrough and could be the start of finding a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Trials on healthy humans will hopefully be carried out within a year and, if successful, will then move onto patients with post-traumatic stress disorder.
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