argon

views updated

argon (symbol Ar) Monatomic (single-atom), colourless and odourless gaseous element that is the most abundant noble gas (inert gas). English physicist Lord Rayleigh and Scottish chemist Sir William Ramsay discovered argon in 1894. It makes up 0.93% of the atmosphere by volume. Obtained commercially by the fractionation of liquid air, it is used in electric light bulbs, fluorescent tubes, argon lasers, arc welding, and semiconductor production. The element has no known true compounds. Properties: at.no. 18; r.a.m. 39.948; r.d. 0.0017837g cm−3; m.p. −189.4 °C (−308.9°F); b.p. −185.9°C (−302.6°F).

More From encyclopedia.com

About this article

argon

Updated About encyclopedia.com content Print Article

Related Content

NEARBY TERMS

argon