Argon

• Argon is a chemical element represented by the symbol Ar.

• Argon has atomic number 18 and is the third element in group 18 of the periodic table (noble gases).

• Argon is the third most common gas in the Earth's atmosphere, at 0.93%, making it more common than carbon dioxide.

This is argon!!

• Argon is colorless, odorless, and nontoxic as a solid, liquid, and gas.

• Argon is inert under most conditions and forms no confirmed stable compounds at room temperature.

Why is argon used?

There are several different reasons why argon is used in particular applications:

• An inert gas is needed. In particular, argon is the cheapest alternative when diatomic nitrogen is not sufficiently inert.

• Low thermal conductivity is required.• The bulk of argon applications arise simply

because it is inert and relatively cheap.

Applications

• Argon is used in some high-temperature industrial processes, where ordinarily non-reactive substances become reactive. For example, an argon atmosphere is used in graphite electric furnaces to prevent the graphite from burning.

• Argon is used in various types of metal inert gas welding such as tungsten inert gas welding.

Semiconductor field

• An argon atmosphere is also used for growing crystals of silicon and germanium.•Argon is an asphyxiant in the poultry industry, either for mass culling following disease outbreaks.•As a means of slaughter more humane than the electric bath. •Its non-reactive nature makes it suitable in a food product, and since it replaces oxygen within the dead bird, argon also enhances shelf life

• Argon is sometimes used for extinguishing fires where damage to equipment is to be avoided .

• Argon is used to displace oxygen- and moisture-containing air in packaging material to extend the shelf-lives of the contents.

• Aerial oxidation, hydrolysis, and other chemical reactions which degrade the products are retarded or prevented entirely.

A sample of caesium is packed under argon to avoid reactions with air

Medical use

• Cryosurgery procedures such as cryoablation use liquefied argon to destroy cancer cells.

• Blue argon lasers are used in surgery to weld arteries, destroy tumours , and to correct eye defects destroy cancer cells.

LIGHTING • Incandescent lights are filled with argon, to

preserve the filaments at high temperature from oxidation.

• Argon is used for the creation of blue laser light.

Safety

• Although argon is non-toxic, it does not satisfy the body's need for oxygen and is thus an asphyxiant.

• Argon is 25% more dense than air and is considered highly dangerous in closed areas.

• It is also difficult to detect because it is colourless, odourless, and tasteless.

• In confined spaces, it is known to result in death due to asphyxiation.