The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-13

Discovery of Hitherto Unknown Con-
sfituent OF the Air.
New York Times

New York Times.
The discovery of an unsupported con-
stituent in the atmosphere, the announce
n1ent of which was received with general
increduiity when the paper by Lord Ray
leigh and Prof. Ramsay was laid before
the British Royal society In January. has
been followed by Investigations that make
absolutely indisputable the claims OF Its
discoveries. II Is nov absolutely certain
that the atmosphere contains at least
one element previously unknown. From
the chemical point of view, perhaps. the
most startling character OF this substance
is it's inertness--all attempts to induce "
TO enter into chemical combination having
so far proved futile. On the other hand.
considering the difficulties attending Its
preparation and publication. knowledge of
It's physical properties is already we'll al
vanced
The new gas Is obtained by two pro-
cesses: The first consists In subjecting
mixture of purified air and oxygen 10 a
stream Of electric sparks In presence OF
an alkali whereby the nitrogen Is oxidized
and absorbed, the excess of oxygen being
afterward removed by treatment with an
alkaline solution of pyrogailoi- The sec
ond process begins with removing the
oxygen from purified air by means OF
red-hot copper, and then the removal of
the nitrogen Is effected by passing the
heated TO redness. The removal of the
last portions of the nitrogen and other
impurities In now effected I'm an ingenious
seif-acting apparatus, whereby the gas
can be kept In circulation over the various
purifying agents for any length of time.
Usually about two days are required
"Argon," as the ew-found substance Is
called. Is coloriess gas whose density Is
about 1890. compared with hydrogen as
unit. II Is about two and a half times as
soluble I'm water nitrogen. 100 volumes
of water dissoiving 4,C6 volumes of argon
at 1879 degrees. The gas can he iiquefied
at very low temperature. and then
forms colorless liquid. which boils un-
der atmospheric pressure at --lS1 degrees,
the density of the liquid at Its boiling
point being about Ia. At stiii lower
temperature. argon Is converted Into "a
crystalline solid resembling Ice. which
meits at --ISa.s degrees flor comparison
II may be mentioned that nitrogen melts
at PA degrees, and hollis at 1914 degrees.
while oxygen. which has not yet been
soliditied. bolts at is2.7 degrees. their
densities In the liquid state being o.sS5 and
liza respectively. The liauefacfion and
solidifcation Of argon has been effected
by Prof. Oiszewskt of Cracow. who also
determined the critical temperature and
pressure of the gas.
Mr.. Croakes. who has undertaken tho
| spectroscopic investigation OF argon.
| found that In the vacuum tube. argon
| gives two distinc. spectra, according TO
| the nature OF the Induction current en-
| ploycd Both consist OF bright lines. In
| the one spectrum 10 lines were measured
| in the other. 80 lines. rs being common 10
/ both spectra. These spectra are quite
/ distinct from those of any other known
! substance
| A most interesting point Is the deter
/ mination OF the ratio OF specific heat az
| constant volume 10 that at constant
/ pressure. dedslsed from the velocity ot
| sound In 8rgon, This ratio Is such as 70
| lead 20 the conclusion thaht the argon
| moiecule IL ntonatomic: this being the
| case. the atomic weight Of argou would
, lac twice its density IN the gaseous state
that IS. approximately. 70. This Is start.
| ling. for on the periodic system OF classi.
, tioatton Of the elements. which has me,
with such general acceptance amons
chemists. there is no place for an add
| tionai element of about that atomic
| weight Further research viii doubtless
throw light on this difficult point but n
the atomic weight proves correct II vii
lee necessary materially 90 modify accept
ed views as TO the periodic classification
| Argon nlay prove To re a mixture OF eie
raeots. there being evidence both for ane
| against ats individual nature.