7440-37-1

colourless odourless gas

With the symbol A, argon is a nonflammable gas; one of the elements in the inert gas category. It is colorless.

Gas as shield in gas metal-arc welding, in metal processing; carrier in gas-liquid and gas-solid chromatography; gas filler for incandescent light bulbs. Gas in fluorescent tubes analogous to neon lights, but produces a blue-purplish light; in rectifier tubes; in thermometers above mercury; in lasers; wherever an inert atmosphere is desired and the much cheaper nitrogen cannot be used; in ionization chambers and particle counters; in mixtures with He and Ne in Geiger counters; in argon-oxygen-decarburizing process for stainless steel; in manufacture of semiconducting devices; in gas mixtures as the working fluid in plasma arc devices. Liquid as cryogen to produce low temperetures. The isotope 40Ar is always found in minerals contg potassium, since it is a product of 40K decay; measuring the amount of 40Ar and 40K can be used for determining the geologic age of minerals and meteors.

A colorless odorless noncombustible gas. Heavier than air and can asphyxiate by displacement of air. Exposure of the container to prolonged heat or fire can cause ARGON(7440-37-1) to rupture violently and rocket . If liquefied, contact of the very cold liquid with water may cause violent boiling. If the water is hot, there is the possibility that a liquid "superheat" explosion may occur. Contacts with water in a closed container may cause dangerous pressure to build.

These substances undergo no chemical reactions under any known circumstances. They are nonflammable, noncombustible and nontoxic. They can asphyxiate.

Vapors may cause dizziness or asphyxiation without warning. Vapors from liquefied gas are initially heavier than air and spread along ground.

Argon is used in metal fabrication and steel making; as an inert gas shield in arc welding; as an inert atmosphere in electric lamps; as a blanketing agent in metals refining (especially titanium and zirconium).

Non-flammable gases. Containers may explode when heated. Ruptured cylinders may rocket.

If contact with liquid argon occurs, seek medical attention immediately; do NOT rub the affected areas or flush them with water. In order to prevent further tissue damage, do NOT attempt to remove frozen clothing from frostbitten areas. If frostbite has NOT occurred, immediately and thoroughly wash contaminated skin with warm water. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure, begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical facility.

UN1006 Argon, compressed, Hazard Class: 2.2; Labels: 2.2-Nonflammable compressed gas. Cylinders must be transported in a secure upright position, in a wellventilated truck. Protect cylinder and labels from physical damage. The owner of the compressed gas cylinder is the only entity allowed by federal law (49CFR) to transport and refill them. It is a violation of transportation regulations to refill compressed gas cylinders without the express written permission of the owner.

Argon belongs to the family of inert, rare gases of the atmosphere. It is plentiful compared to the other rare atmospheric gases; I million ft3 (28 300 m3) of dry air contains 9340 ft3 (264 m3 ) of argon. Argon is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and nontoxic. It is extremely inert and forms no known chemical compounds. It is slightly soluble in water.

Vent to atmosphere. Return refillable compressed gas cylinders to supplier.

Argon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, chemically inert noble gas that makes up about0.93% of the Earth’s atmosphere. It is the third most abundant gas in the atmosphere, meaningit is more common than carbon dioxide, helium, methane, and hydrogen.
Its melting point is –189.35°C, its boiling point is –185.85°C, and its density is0.0017837g/cm³.

There are a total of 24 isotopes of argon, three of which are stable. They areAr-36, which constitutes just 0.3365% of the natural amount of argon; Ar-38, which contributesjust 0.0632% to the amount of argon on Earth; and Ar-40, which, by far, constitutesthe most argon on Earth, 99.6003% of its natural abundance.

The name “argon” is derived from the Greek word argos, meaning “inactive.”

Argon is the 56th most abundant element on Earth. It is the most abundant of all the noblegases found in the atmosphere. In fact, the only source of argon is the atmosphere, where it isfound at just under 1% of air by volume.
There are several methods of producing argon. The most common is by fractional distillationof liquid air. Argon is collected as a by-product of this large-scale commercial process.During fractional distillation, argon boils off at its own unique temperature. It is then collectedand purified by passing it through charcoal to filter out helium and other gases, producingsignificant amounts of argon.

Although argon is considered chemically inert, at low temperatures it is possible to combineargon with other atoms to form very fragile compounds, which exist only at those verylow temperatures. For instance, it can combine with fluorine and hydrogen to form argonfluorohydride (HArF). It is only slightly soluble in water.

Argon is rendered oxygen-free by passage over reduced copper at 450o, or by bubbling through alkaline pyrogallol and H2SO4, then dried with CaSO4, Mg(ClO4)2, or Linde 5A molecular sieves. Other purification steps include passage through Ascarite (CARE: asbestos impregnated with sodium hydroxide), through finely divided uranium at about 800o and through a -78o cold trap. Alternatively the gas is passed over CuO pellets at 300o to remove hydrogen and hydrocarbons, over Ca chips at 600o to remove oxygen and, finally, over titanium chips at 700o to remove nitrogen. It has also been purified by freeze-pump-thaw cycles and by passage over sputtered sodium [Arnold & Smith J Chem Soc, Faraday Trans 2 77 861 1981]. Arsenic acid (arsenic pentoxide hydrate, arsenic V oxide hydrate, orthoarsenic acid) [12044-50-7] M 229.8 + xH2O, pK 1 2.26, pK 2 6.76, pK 3 11.29 (H3AsO4). The acid crystallises from concentrated solutions of boiling conc HNO3 as rhombic crystals. Dry it in a vacuum to give the hemihydrate (hygroscopic). Heating above 300o yields As2O5. [Thaler Z Anorg Allgem Chem 246 19 1941, Schenk in Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry (Ed. Brauer) Academic Press Vol I p 601 1963.]

Argon is nontoxic, but as an asphyxiant gas, it can smother by replacing oxygen in thelungs.

A chemical element (symbol Ar), argon is thethird member of the gaseous elements calledthe noble, inert, or rare gases, although argonis not actually rare. The earth’s atmosphere isthe only commercial argon source; however,traces of the gas are found in minerals andmeteorites.Argon is colorless, odorless, and tasteless.The element is a gas under ordinary conditions,but it can be liquefied, solidified readily, and isa major industrial gas.Argon does not form any chemical compoundsin the ordinary sense of the word,although it does form some weakly bondedclathrate compounds with water, hydroquinone,and phenol. There is one atom in each moleculeof gaseous argon.
The oldest large-scale use for argon is infilling electric lightbulbs. Welding and cuttingmetal consumes the largest amount of argon.Metallurgical processing constitutes an importantapplication.Argon and Ar–Kr mixtures are used, alongwith a little mercury vapor, to fill fluorescentlamps. The inert gases make the lamps easierto start, help to regulate the voltage, and supplementthe radiation produced by the excitedmercury vapor.Argon mixed with a little neon is used tofill luminous electric-discharge tubes employedin advertising signs (similar to neon signs)when a blue or green color is desired instead ofthe red color of neon.Argon is used to fill the space between thepanes of higher-quality double-pane windows,reducing heat transfer by gaseous conductionby about 30% compared to air filling.Argon is also used in gas-filled thyratrons.Geiger–Müller radiation counters, ionizationchambers that measure cosmic radiation, andelectron tubes of various kinds. Argon atmospheresare used in dry boxes during manipulationof very reactive chemicals in the laboratoryand in sealed-package shipments of suchmaterials. In high-energy physics research, atank of liquid argon can form a calorimeter todetect certain subatomic particles.

Gaseous argon is noncorrosive and inert, and consequently may be contained in systems constructed of any common metals and designed to safely withstand the pressures involved. At the temperature of liquid argon, ordinary carbon steels and most alloy steels lose their ductility and are considered unsafe for liquid argon service. Satisfactory materials for use with liquid argon include austenitic stainless steel (for example, types 304 and 316), copper, Monel, brass, aluminum, and other nickel-chromium alloys.

Argon is nontoxic and largely inert. It can act as a simple asphyxiant by diluting the concentration of oxygen in air below levels necessary to support life. Inhalation of it in excessive concentrations can result in dizziness, nausea, vomiting, loss of consciousness, and death. Death may result from errors in judgment, confusion, or loss of consciousness, which prevents self-rescue. At low-oxygen concentrations, unconsciousness and death may occur in seconds without warning.
Gaseous argon must be handled with all the precautions necessary for safety as with any nonflammable, nontoxic compressed gas. All precautions necessary for the safe handling of any gas liquefied at very low temperatures must be observed with liquid argon. Extensive tissue damage or burns can result from exposure to liquid argon or cold argon vapors.

Gaseous argon is commonly stored in high pressure cylinders, tubes, or tube trailers. Liquid argon is commonly stored at the consumer site in cryogenic liquid containers and specially designed vacuum-insulated cryogenic storage tanks.
All of the precautions necessary for the handling of any nonflammable gas or cryogenic liquid must be taken.
Liquid and gaseous systems should be designed and installed only under the direction of personnel thoroughly familiar with liquid and gaseous argon equipment and in compliance with state, provincial, and local requirements.