You read it right, the deadly material to all kryptonians is almost a real thing. A theoretical chemist from the institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences have discovered how to synthesise a krypton oxide, the first binary compound of krypton and oxygen. It turns out, all it needs is some extremely high pressure.
As most of you know, crystals of kryptonite were suppose to have been created on the planet Krypton, most likely under high pressure. The planets name clearly comes from the element, with the atomic number of 36, a noble gas incapable of forming stable chemical compounds.
Through computer simulations it was determined that to create the crystals of krypton monoxide, it would require a pressure between 300 to 500 atmospheres! Surprisingly this can be achieved in todays laboratories by skillfully squeezing samples in diamond anvils.
Theorists from the IPC PAS have also found a second, slightly less stable compound of krypton: the tetroxide KrO4. This material, which probably has properties typical of a metal, has a simpler crystalline structure and could be formed at a pressure exceeding 340 million atmospheres.
Currently there has not been any success of creating a crystallised version of Kryptonite, but the research continues. Do you think that its possible to create Kryptonite? Will we not need Batman anymore to revolt against Superman’s uprising? Let us know in the comments below!
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