Argon was discovered in 1894 by Sir William Ramsay and Baron John William Strutt Rayleigh. Argon's ancient name which is Argos which means in Greek inactive. The Symbol for Argon is Ar. Argon is in the Family 18, period 3. Family 18 is a group of Nobel Gases. The Atomic Number of Argon is 18. The Atomic Mass is of Argon is 39.938. The Melting Point of Argon is 91.81 degrees K, -189.19 degrees C, -308.54 F. The Boiling Point of Argon is 87.3 degrees K, -185.7 degrees C, -302.3 degrees F. The Period that Argon belongs in is 3. The Element Classification of Argon is a Non-Metal. The Density of Argon 1.7824 g/l . The Crystal Structure of Argon is Cubic, Close-packed. The Standard State is gas at 298 K and is obtained form air. Argon is colorless, tasteless, odorless, monatomic and nontoxic gas. Argon makes up about 1 percent or 0.934 percent by volume of the Earth's atmosphere and is the 3rd most abundant element in the Earth's Atmosphere. Argon has 3 energy levels, in the first level 2 electrons, in the second level there is 8 electrons, and in the third level is 8 electrons. Argon is used in electric light bulbs and in fluorescent tubes, and in filling photo tubes, glow tubes, etc. Argon used as inert gas shield for arc welding and cutting, as blanket for the production of titanium and other reactive element, and as a protective atmosphere for growing silicon and germanium crystals. The Electron Configuration [Ne]3s23p6. Argon provides the atmosphere for growing crystals to be used in the semicondutor industry, such as Silicon an Germanium. Argon is used in dating rocks with a process called Potassium Argon dating, by comparing the amount of K-40 to Ar-40, the age of the rocks can be found. The larger the ratio of Argon to Potassium, the older the samples. Argon is used radio tubes and Geiger counters as well as an inert atmosphere for arc-welding metals like aluminum and stainless steel. Argon is used to grow silicon crystals.
