The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-04-17
A NEW GAS DESCRIBED
A Newly Discovered Constituent Of the
Atmosphere
Scientific Problem Which Has Been
Stated by a Local In
vestigator

At the present time one of the most in
teresting scientific problems is that relat-
ling to the eSly discovered gas in our
atmosphere-argon.
Formerly, after the oxygen, carbonic
acid gas and the aqueous vapor had been
removed from a portion OF the atmos-
phere, the remaining gas was supposed
to be pure nitrogen. Just lately, however.
it has been found that about one per cent
OF the above remaining gas is new gas.
This newly discovered gas apparently Will
not combine with any othe; subs ACE,
and on account of this inertness it has
been called argon. 1t is about one and
half times as heavy as nitrogen, its gas
eous density being about 200. 1t liqui-
iies at II degees and solidities at 1876 de-
grees G.
Lord Raleigh in his paper read before
thel Royal Institution states that argon
is a monatomic gas, and as the latter can
only be an element or mixture of ele-
ments, that argon cannot be OF Il COM
pound nature. This conclusion is based
on the kinetic theory of gases, which al
be faulty.
However, he also says There is evil
dence both for and against the hypothesis
that argon is mixture Still his sew
eral deductions lead him to believe argon
to be an element. having the atomic
weight OF about 40. and he seeks to class
ify it in the list of the elements near the
place of potassium. TO do this he natur-
ally abandons on the great periodic law,
for he says If argon be II single ele-
memo, then there is reason to doubt
whether the periodic classification of the
elements is complete; whether, in fact
elements may not exist which cannot be
fitted among those of which it is com
posed.
According to Mendeljeff' S periodic class
i!ication OF the elements, which is now
generally accepted, there can be no new
element having the atomic weight of 40,
or even of 20. Hence, Notwithstanding
the conclusionss drawn from the faulty
Kinetic theory OF gases the modern
chemist will regard argon as IA compound
body. Which conclusion is correcty
Lord Raleigh and others evidently re-
gard the space of four atomic mass units
which exists between tluorne and sodium
and between chlorine and potassium, as
capable of containing one or more ele-
ments. At the same time they have dis
regarded the larger space of six atomic
units between hydrogen and lithium.
If we construct curve showing the rel
alive position of the elements to each
other. by making the abscissae equal to
the atomic masses and the ordinates
equal to the specific gravities the curve
can be readily constructed between the
positions of hydrogen and lithium. Then
Judging by the distances between the
known elements. their periodic relation
to each other, etc., we can infer that
there are two as yet unknown elements in
that part of the curve between hydrogen
and lithium.
From my deductions | have arrived at
the following opinion in regard to the
physical properties of these two elements.
The rest of the new element lisa metallic
element somewhat like hydrogen. and it
is probably the hydrogen occluded by the
metal indium. Its atomic weight is two
and its specific gravity in the solid con-
dition is slightly greater than that of the
first hydrogen, while its melting point is
about 100 degrees higher. The second new
elementQhe third element of the curve,
which | have professionally named Amer
icanum, symbol a, is remarkable for its
very small specific gravity, about one
third that of the first hydrogen and for
its very low melting point about "a de-
grees G lower than that of the first hydro
gen. Its atomic weight is four. This ele-
ment, | think. will help to clear up the
doubts pertaining to argon.
The above curve and its correlated
curves, while showing that there is no
position, for argon as an element, also
make some changes in the accepted
atomic masses, among which is that of
pnpSpllOTuS, IL rum u " ~.
There are certain reasons for regarding
phosphorus to be compound like am
monia, cyanogen, ETC., each OF which
plays the part of all element.
The relative gaseous density of such
elements as can be gasitied is supposed to
be the same as that of their relative
atomic weights, with few exceptions,
among which is phosphorus. The atomic
weight of phosphorus, considered as an
element, is taken as being one-half It's
gaseous density, while Its molecular
weight follows the general rule for simple
aud compound gases, being twice its gas
eous density.
If what we call phosphorus is not an
elementary substance, then R4-14 is not
the molecular formula Can the true
formula be deduced from the above obser-
vations? If we consider phi sphorus to
be compound substance, then, Judging
by analogy from other compounds, aud
BY the curve, one of the elements ought
to be the true element phosphorus, hav
ing an atomic weight of 30. The laws of
valency point out that this element
should in the compound which We now
call phosphorus exist in multidle combina-
ton with a previous element on the curve
of q cerain valence. The compound sub
stance phosphorus is then accurately rep
resented by tn formula A PA 124.
The same reasoning will apply to the
argon consld cred as compound. Be-
sides, if americanum will combine with
elementary phosphorus, it ought also
under appropriate conditions to form a
similar compound with its analogue nj.
trogen, the formula of which substance
would be A N4-60. But this substance
would be non saturated and therefore an
active compound like a PA, and not an
inert and saturated compound like argon.
But the formula OF the saturated COM
pound of nitrogen is A3 N2.4O. This So
luton being in accord ,nce with the laws
of periodicity and of valency the last
formula may be taken as that of argon.
DR.. w. H. MASSER.