Argon
Argon is a chemical element. Its symbol is argon is Ar and its atomic number is 18. It is part of the noble gas group. It is an odorless and tasteless gas. Argon is the third-most abundant gas in the Earth’s atmosphere.
The name “argon” is from the Greek word ἀργός meaning “lazy” or “inactive” because it does not react with other chemicals.
Chemistry
Argon atoms are found in air. About 1% of the Earth’s atmosphere (the air around us) is argon. It is not toxic and it does not burn easily. Not many compounds can be made from Argon. However, some compounds have been formed, like argon fluorohydride (HArF). Argon has a higher density than the gases in the atmosphere as a whole, so if a balloon is filled with argon, it would fall to the ground. This means it can be used to displace oxygen and nitrogen at the bottom of an enclosed space, so, while non-toxic, it must be handled with care.
History
Argon was first removed from air in 1894 by Lord Rayleigh and Sir William Ramsay at University College London by removing oxygen, carbon dioxide, water, and nitrogen from a sample of clean air.
Isotopes
The main isotopes of argon found on Earth are 40 Ar (99.6%), 36 Ar (0.34%), and 38 Ar (0.06%). The most abundant isotope of argon is 40 Ar. But other planets have different isotopes of argon.
Production
Argon is gotten industrially by the fractional distillation of liquid air. About 700,000 tonnes of argon are produced worldwide every year.
40 Ar is made by the decay of 40 K with a half-life of 1.25 billion years by electron capture or positron emission. Because of this, it is used in knowing how old rocks are.
Uses
Argon is often used when welding steel and similar work, to push away the air around the weld, so the oxygen in the air can’t join with the metal being welded. It can also be used in neon lights for a purple color. Argon is used in the poultry industry to asphyxiate birds. Argon is sometimes used for extinguishing (ending) fires.
Liquid argon is used in neutrino experiments and looking for dark matter. Argon is used to preserve food. Argon is sometimes used as the propellant in aerosol cans. Argon is also used as a preservative for such products as varnish, polyurethane, and paint. Argon has been used by athletes as a doping agent and has been banned as use. It is used to know how old rocks are.
Written for younger readers
Argon, in simpler words
This version comes from Wikijunior, a set of books written for children aged 8 to 11. It is shorter and uses plainer language than the article above.
From Wikijunior: The Elements
NOTOC
Argon has no smell. It is a colorless gas. It has no taste. It, being inert, is non-toxic.
Argon was discovered by Lord Rayleigh and Sir William Ramsay in 1894. It was isolated by examination of the residue obtained by removing nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water from clean air. In fact, air contains slightly less than 1% argon, making it the third most abundant gas in air, behind nitrogen and oxygen. The atmosphere of Mars contains less than 2% argon. It was recognized by the characteristic lines in the red end of the spectrum.
The name Argon comes from argos, the Greek word for lazy or inactive. It got this name, because it doesn’t react easily with other elements. Did You Know?
- Argon is heavier than air.
- Argon is the third most abundant gas in air.
- Argon forms only one compound.
Argon is found in the air and is a byproduct of the production of oxygen and nitrogen. Argon makes up .93% of the Earth’s atmosphere.
Argon can be used to put out fires without damaging electronics. Argon is used in welding arcs and growing semiconductor crystals. Argon is also used in some light signs. Light signs containing argon emit a deep blue light. In some double-glazed windows, argon is contained to slow the loss of heat. For the same purpose some diving suits are also filled with argon for those diving deep down where it’s freezing cold. Argon can protect an object stored in it by forcing out the water vapours and oxygen that would damage the object like the Magna Carta.
Argon is usually not dangerous; it can be inhaled safely as long as there is also oxygen.
Where this page comes from
The article above is adapted from “Argon” on Simple English Wikipedia, by its contributors. We removed reference markers, navigation boxes and tables, expanded measurement templates into readable numbers, and kept the prose otherwise intact. The simpler version is adapted from Wikijunior on Wikibooks.
Both sources are published under CC BY-SA 4.0, so this page is published under the same licence. You may share and adapt it, including commercially, as long as you credit the original and keep the same licence.
Worksheets, answer keys and printable layouts elsewhere on K5Print are our own work and are not covered by this licence.