argon

American  

[ahr-gon] / ˈɑr gɒn /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless, odorless, chemically inactive, monatomic, gaseous element that, because of its inertness, is used for filling fluorescent and incandescent lamps and vacuum tubes. Ar; 18; 39.948.

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argon British  

/ ˈɑːɡɒn /

noun

1. an extremely unreactive colourless odourless element of the rare gas series that forms almost 1 per cent (by volume) of the atmosphere. It is used in electric lights. Symbol: Ar; atomic no: 18; atomic wt: 39.948; density: 1.7837 kg/m³; freezing pt: –189.3°C; boiling pt: –185.9°C

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argon Scientific  

/ är′gŏn′ /

1. A colorless, odorless element in the noble gas group. Argon makes up about one percent of the atmosphere. It is used in electric light bulbs, fluorescent tubes, and radio vacuum tubes. Atomic number 18; atomic weight 39.948; melting point −189.2°C; boiling point −185.7°C.

2. See Periodic Table

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Etymology

Origin of argon

1890–95; < Greek, neuter of argós inactive, not working, idle, contraction of aergós equivalent to a- a- ⁶ + érg ( on ) work + -os adj. suffix

Example Sentences

These included metals such as copper, noble gases under extreme pressure such as argon in crystalline state, and the complex solid-solid phase transition of tin.

From Science Daily

"The age of 6.3 million years should be interpreted as a maximum age since some of the argon may have been inherited from the ancient rocks targeted by the impact," the researcher comments.

From Science Daily

To explore this effect, the researchers created carbon nanoparticles by igniting a mixture of argon and acetylene gas.

From Science Daily

Analyses of these samples show that the moon's surface layer, known as regolith, contains volatile substances such as water, carbon dioxide, helium, argon, and nitrogen.

From Science Daily

Rutgers scientists also helped advance methods for measuring how neutrinos interact in liquid argon.

From Science Daily