Here's why it's uncommon:
* Trace amounts: It exists in the Earth's atmosphere at very low concentrations, only about 0.087 parts per million (ppm).
* Radioactive isotopes: Most xenon isotopes are radioactive, meaning they decay over time.
* Origin: The majority of xenon originates from nuclear processes like supernova explosions and the decay of radioactive elements.
To put its rarity in perspective:
* It's about 100 times rarer than helium.
* It's even rarer than gold, which is about 0.004 ppm in the Earth's crust.
Therefore, although xenon is present in nature, it's considered a scarce element.