Which noble gas is extracted commercially from liquid air fractionation and used extensively in high-intensity arc lighting and flash photography lamps?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Xenon is a rare noble gas isolated via fractional distillation of liquid air, utilized in specialized photographic flashes, high-intensity discharge lamps, and ion propulsion thrusters for spacecraft. Helium is obtained primarily from natural gas deposits and used in cryogenics and balloon inflation. Neon produces reddish-orange glow in advertising signs when subjected to electrical discharges. Argon serves as an inert shielding gas in high-temperature metallurgical welding processes.