Incandescent lamps were quite common before the advent of fluorescent and LED lights. It was a matter of wonder to see the filament of the bulb keep burning for days and weeks without dying out, or blackening the glass. It is an element called argon that does the trick. Argon does not react with the filament used in the light bulbs, even at high temperatures. And that helps the filament last longer, and keeps the glass of the bulb from blackening.
The element is often used in the process of preservation. Important historical documents can be protected from decay with the help of argon. If the gas is pumped around such documents, the element will displace oxygen which is reactive and help the pages and ink of the delicate document from degrading.
Argon is also used for the manufacture of decorative lightings. In the defence industry, the element is considered a blessing, because it is used to cool the heads of heat-seeking missiles.
Argon was discovered and named by Lord Rayleigh, an English scientist, and Sir William Ramsay, a Scottish chemist. Argon has no known biological significance. Large amounts of pure argon in enclosed areas will cause people to suffocate.
Argon is the third most abundant gas on Earth. Its atomic number is 18, and the symbol is Ar.
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