Element #18

Argon

noble gas gas Discovered 1894

39.948 Atomic Mass (u)

-189.35 C Melting Point

-185.85 C Boiling Point

0.001634 g/cm3 Density

N/A Electronegativity

[Ne] 3s2 3p6 Electron Config

3 Period

18 Group

📖 About Argon

The third most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere (0.93%), more abundant than carbon dioxide. Argon is completely inert and does not form any stable compounds under normal conditions. Its inertness makes it ideal as a protective atmosphere for welding and for preserving historic documents and artifacts.

🔧 Uses and Applications

Welding shielding gas
Incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs
Preserving historic documents
Double-glazed window insulation
Semiconductor manufacturing

💡 Did You Know?

Fact: Argon was one of the last major atmospheric gases to be discovered, even though it makes up nearly 1% of the air. It was hard to find because it forms no compounds and gives no chemical clues to its presence. Lord Rayleigh noticed that nitrogen isolated from air was slightly denser than nitrogen from chemical reactions, leading to the discovery.