Scientists in 1962 became very excited when they were able to create xenon tetrafluoride. Why was this an unusual feat? Why was fluorine a good choice to try to react with xenon?

Answer 1

Until then no one thought compounds of the so-called "inert elements" formed any compounds. Since then we have referred to those elements in group VIII (or group 18) as noble gases or noble elements and other elements of that group have been found to form compounds, also. Fluorine was a good choice because it is small and it is highly electronegative.