Argon

ar'gon, an element in the air discovered in 1894 by Professors Strutt (Lord Rayleigh) and Ramsay of England. A hundred years earlier Cavendish suggested the existence of such a gas. The discoverers of argon were led to the new element-by noticing that nitrogen obtained from air was always heavier by one-half of one per cent than that prepared from compounds. Investigation proved that atmospheric nitrogen had mixed with it an element new to science. On further investigation of argon obtained from liquid air, it has been found that argon is associated with minute quantities of yet other unsuspected elements. Under ordinary conditions, argon is an odorless, tasteless, colorless gas. Argon liquefies under a pressure of 40 atmospheres at a temperature of -184 degree F., and freezes at -310 degree F. As a liquid it is denser than water. Little is known of argon's chemical properties save that it is inert and does not combine with any other element. The name is Greek and signifies inactive. See Air