What are uses for argon?

Answer 1

Argon is used in situations where materials need to be protected from oxygen or other gases. A good example is an incandescent light bulb, which consists of a metal wire inside a clear glass bulb. An electric current passes through the wire, causing it to get very hot and give off light.

Oxygen will combine with the hot metal very easily, forming a compound of the metal and oxygen. This compound will not conduct an electric current very well, thereby causing the light bulb to stop giving off light.

Argon, however, is used to prevent this from happening. Because argon is inert, it will not react with the hot wire, leaving the metal hot for very long periods of time. The light bulb will stop giving off light only when the metal breaks. Then it can no longer carry an electric current.

Argon is also used in welding. Welding is the process by which two metals are joined to each other. In most cases, the two metals are heated to very high temperatures.

As they get hot, they melt together.However, as the metals get hot, they begin to react with oxygen. In this reaction, a compound of metal and oxygen is formed. It becomes very difficult to join the two metals if they have formed compounds, but introducing argon into the welding environment improves the bond.

Argon is also used in argon lasers and argon-dye lasers. A laser is a device that produces very bright light of a single color (frequency). An argon laser is used to treat skin conditions. The laser shines a blue-green light on the affected area of the skin. The energy from the laser is absorbed by hemoglobin and converted to heat. (Hemoglobin is the protein pigment in red blood cells.

It transports oxygen to the tissues and carbon dioxide from them.) The blood vessels are damaged, but then sealed, prompting them to decompose and be reabsorbed into the body. Unwanted growths are flattened and dark spots are Lightened, with only a small risk of scarring.

An argon-dye laser is used in eye surgery. The color of light produced by the laser can be adjusted with high precision. It can be made to produce light ranging across the green-to-blue color range. Each shade of green or blue has a slightly different frequency. It can penetrate more or less deeply in the eye. The laser can be adjusted to treat a very specific part of the eye. The argon dye is used to treat tumors, damaged blood vessels, conditions involving the retina, and other kinds of eye problems.

Answer 2

Argon is often used when an inert atmosphere is needed. It is used in this way to protect the weld area and in incandescent light bulbs to stop oxygen from corroding the filament. Argon is used in fluorescent tubes and low-energy light bulbs. A low-energy light bulb often contains argon gas and Mercury. When it is switched on an electric discharge passes through the gas, generating UV light. The coating on the inside surface of the bulb is activated by the UV light and it glows brightly. Double-glazed windows use argon to fill the space between the panes. The tyres of luxury cars can contain argon to protect the rubber and reduce road noise.