| Argon |
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| Atomic Number - | 18 | Melting Point (°C,°F) - | -189.35 °C, -308.83 °F |
| Atomic Symbol - | Ar | Boiling Point (°C,°F) - | -185.85 °C, -302.53 °F |
| Atomic Mass - | 39.95 | Electron Configuration - | [Ne] 3s2 3p6 |
| Group - | 18 | Electrons Per Shell - | 2, 8, 8 |
| Period - | 3 | Protons - | 18 |
| Series - | Noble Gases | Neutrons - | 22 |
| Block - | p-block | | |
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Element Description - Argon is a chemical element in the periodic table. It has the symbol Ar and atomic number 18. The third noble gas, in group 18, argon makes up about 1% of the Earth's atmosphere, making it the most common noble gas on Earth. |
Element Characteristics - Argon is 2.5 times as soluble in water as nitrogen which is approximately the same solubility as oxygen. This highly stable chemical element is colorless and odorless in both its liquid and gaseous forms. There are few known true chemical compounds that contain argon, which is one of the reasons it was formerly called an inert gas. The creation of argon hydrofluoride (HArF), a highly unstable compound of argon with fluorine, was reported by researchers at the University of Helsinki in 2000, but has not been confirmed as of yet.
Although no chemical compounds of argon are presently confirmed, argon can form clathrates with water when atoms of it are trapped in a lattice of the water molecules. Theoretical calculations on computers have shown several argon compounds that should be stable but for which no synthesis routes are currently known. |
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