SEMINAR REPORT

On

Discovery of inert gaseous elements in air-

by Sir William Ramsay

Department of Chemical Engineering

National Institute of Technology Hamirpur –
177005 HP, Seminar CH-327

Submitted to: Submitted by:

DR. TAPAS PALAI ANSHU MEENA

 CONTENTS

Abstract

Introduction

Who was William Ramsay?

Discovery of Inert Gases

Types of Inert Gases

Applications of inert Gases

Isolation of Inert gases from atmosphere

 ABSTRACT

The sheer contribution of sir William Ramsay towards the

discovery of noble gases can’t be neglected.
The advent of noble gases led to various discoveries in varied
domains be it medical,generation of energy.The endless
application have proved to be an asset and also led to the
growth of the Indian economy.
Individual noble gas has certain advantages that make it way
too unique from other gases .In my report I tried to cover the
entire information starting from discovery to the never ending
applications.
 INTRODUCTION

The discovery of inert gaseous elements in air led to chaos in

minds of scientists about the exceptional behaviour of these
gases and how to classify them along other elements of the
periodic table.A scientist named William Ramsay studied and
researched deeply about these gases and also found ways to
classify them among various elements due to this we were able
to understand about these elements more easily for this he also
later received nobel prize in chemistry.

Elements of group 18 are all gases and have completely filled

outermost orbital, that's why these elements are highly stable
and don’t react with other elements easily. This is the reason
these elements are known as inert gases or inert elements. The
word inert means chemically unreactive. These gases are also
known as Noble Gases. Group 18 is also called the zero group.
So, elements of group 18 are also called zero group elements.
 WHO WAS WILLIAM RAMSAY ?

Sir William Ramsay was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry

in 1904 "in recognition of his services in the discovery of the
inert gaseous elements in air, and his determination of their
place in the periodic system." Ramsay's work on the inert gases
fundamentally changed our understanding of the nature of
matter and contributed to the development of modern
chemistry.

Ramsay went on to discover neon, krypton, and xenon, and

determined their properties and place in the periodic table of
elements. Ramsay's work on the inert gases challenged the
existing periodic table, which had been developed based on the
chemical properties of the known elements. The inert gases did
not fit into any existing chemical group, as they were
completely unreactive with other elements. Ramsay proposed
that the inert gases should be placed in a new group, which he
called Group 0, later renamed Group 18.

Ramsay's work on the inert gases had far-reaching implications

for the field of chemistry. His discovery of a new group of
elements fundamentally changed our understanding of the
nature of matter, and led to the development of new theories
and models of atomic structure. Ramsay's work also had
practical applications, particularly in the fields of gas analysis
and spectroscopy.

Overall, Ramsay's contributions to the discovery and

understanding of the inert gases were truly groundbreaking, and
his work paved the way for many important developments in
modern chemistry. His Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1904
recognized the immense significance of his discoveries, and
cemented his place as one of the greatest chemists of all time.
 DISCOVERY OF INERT GASES

Noble gas is translated from the German noun Edelgas, first

used in 1898 by Hugo Erdmann to indicate their extremely low
level of reactivity. The name makes an analogy to the term
"noble metals", which also have low reactivity. The noble gases
have also been referred to as inert gases, but this label is
deprecated as many noble gas compounds are now known.Rare
gases is another term that was used, but this is also inaccurate
because argon forms a fairly considerable part (0.94% by
volume, 1.3% by mass) of the Earth's atmosphere due to decay
of radioactive potassium-40.

Pierre Janssen and Joseph Norman Lockyer had discovered a

new element on 18 August 1868 while looking at the
chromosphere of the Sun, and named it helium after the Greek
word for the Sun, ἥλιος (hḗlios). No chemical analysis was
possible at the time, but helium was later found to be a noble
gas. Before them, in 1784, the English chemist and physicist
Henry Cavendish had discovered that air contains a small
proportion of a substance less reactive than nitrogen. A century
later, in 1895, Lord Rayleigh discovered that samples of
nitrogen from the air were of a different density than nitrogen
resulting from chemical reactions. Along with Scottish scientist
William Ramsay at University College, London, Lord Rayleigh
theorized that the nitrogen extracted from air was mixed with
another gas, leading to an experiment that successfully isolated
a new element, argon, from the Greek word ἀργός (argós,
"idle" or "lazy"). With this discovery, they realized an entire
class of gases was missing from the periodic table. During his
search for argon, Ramsay also managed to isolate helium for
the first time while heating cleveite, a mineral. In 1902, having
accepted the evidence for the elements helium and argon,
Dmitri Mendeleev included these noble gases as group 0 in his
arrangement of the elements, which would later become the
periodic table.
Ramsay continued his search for these gases using the method
of fractional distillation to separate liquid air into several
components. In 1898, he discovered the elements krypton,
neon, and xenon, and named them after the Greek words
κρυπτός (kryptós, "hidden"), νέος (néos, "new"), and ξένος
(ksénos, "stranger"), respectively. Radon was first identified in
1898 by Friedrich Ernst Dorn,and was named radium
emanation, but was not considered a noble gas until 1904 when
its characteristics were found to be similar to those of other
noble gases. Rayleigh and Ramsay received the 1904 Nobel
Prizes in Physics and in Chemistry, respectively, for their
discovery of the noble gases; in the words of J. E. Cederblom,
then president of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, "the
discovery of an entirely new group of elements, of which no
single representative had been known with any certainty, is
something utterly unique in the history of chemistry, being
intrinsically an advance in science of peculiar significance" .

TYPES OF INERT GASES

Helium

Helium is a chemical element with the symbol He and atomic

number 2. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, inert,
monatomic gas that heads the noble gas series in the periodic
table. Its boiling and melting points are the lowest among all
the elements and it exists only as a gas except in extreme
conditions.

Here are some key characteristics and properties of helium:

● Abundance: Helium is the second most abundant element in the

observable universe, after hydrogen. However, on Earth it is
 relatively rare, making up only about 0.00052% of the
atmosphere.
● Production: Helium is produced by the radioactive decay
of uranium and thorium in the Earth's crust. It is also
produced by fusion reactions in stars.
● Uses: Helium has a number of important industrial and
scientific applications. It is used in cryogenics, as a
coolant for nuclear reactors and MRI machines, and in
welding and cutting processes. It is also used in gas
chromatography and as a carrier gas in analytical
chemistry.
● Medical Applications: Helium is used in respiratory
treatments for conditions such as asthma and emphysema.
Breathing in a helium-oxygen mixture can also cause the
voice to sound higher-pitched due to the difference in the
speed of sound in the mixture.
● Special Properties: Helium is the only element that
cannot be solidified by cooling under standard
atmospheric pressure. It is also unique in that its liquid
form has the lowest boiling point of any substance, just
4.2 kelvins above absolute zero. Helium is also a
superfluid, meaning it has zero viscosity and can flow
through narrow spaces without friction.

Overall, helium is a unique and important element with a range

of industrial, scientific, and medical applications. Its special
properties, including its extremely low boiling and melting
points and its status as a superfluid, make it a fascinating
subject of study in the field of chemistry.
Neon

Neon is a chemical element with the symbol Ne and atomic

number 10. It is a noble gas and is colorless, odorless, and
tasteless. Neon is the second-lightest noble gas, after helium.
Here are some key characteristics and properties of neon:
● Abundance: Neon is the fifth most abundant element in
the universe, after hydrogen, helium, oxygen, and carbon.
However, it is relatively rare on Earth, making up only
about 0.0018% of the atmosphere.
● Production: Neon is produced by the nuclear fusion of
helium and oxygen in stars. On Earth, neon is obtained by
liquefying air and separating the gases using fractional
distillation.
 ● Uses: Neon is used primarily in lighting, including neon
signs and fluorescent lights. It is also used in vacuum
tubes, plasma displays, and as a refrigerant in cryogenics.
Neon is also used in medical applications, including as a
gas for anesthesia and as a tracer gas in medical imaging.
● Special Properties: Like other noble gases, neon is highly
unreactive and does not form compounds with other
elements. It is also a poor conductor of heat and
electricity. When subjected to an electrical discharge, neon
emits a characteristic bright red-orange glow, which is the
basis for its use in lighting.
Overall, neon is a fascinating element with a range of industrial
and scientific applications. Its unique properties, including its
bright orange-red glow and its unreactivity, make it an
important subject of study in the field of chemistry.

Argon
Argon is a chemical element with the symbol Ar and atomic
number 18. It is a noble gas and is colorless, odorless, and
tasteless. Argon is the third most abundant gas in the Earth's
atmosphere, after nitrogen and oxygen.
Here are some key characteristics and properties of argon:
● Abundance: Argon makes up about 0.93% of the Earth's
atmosphere. It is also found in some rocks, including
granite.
● Production: Argon is produced by the decay of
potassium-40 in the Earth's crust. It is also produced in
stars by the fusion of lighter elements.
● Uses: Argon is used in a variety of industrial applications,
including as a shielding gas in welding and metal
fabrication, as a coolant for nuclear reactors, and as a filler
gas in incandescent light bulbs. Argon is also used in
scientific research, including as a detector gas in particle
physics experiments.
● Special Properties: Argon is a non-reactive gas and does
not form compounds with other elements. It has a slightly
lower boiling and melting point than neon, but is still a gas
at room temperature and pressure. Argon is also slightly
soluble in water and has a lower thermal conductivity than
most other gases.
Overall, argon is an important and versatile element with a
range of industrial and scientific applications. Its unique
properties, including its non-reactivity and use as a shielding
gas in welding, make it an important subject of study in the
field of chemistry.
Krypton

Krypton is a chemical element with the symbol Kr and atomic

number 36. It is a noble gas and is colorless, odorless, and
tasteless. Krypton is a rare gas and makes up only about 1 part
per million of the Earth's atmosphere.
Here are some key characteristics and properties of
krypton:
● Abundance: Krypton is a rare gas, and is present in the
Earth's atmosphere in trace amounts.
● Production: Krypton is produced by the decay of uranium
and thorium in the Earth's crust, and is also produced in
stars by nuclear fusion.
● Uses: Krypton has limited commercial uses, but it is used
in some specialized applications, including as a gas for
high-speed photography and as a filling gas in certain
types of fluorescent lights.
● Special Properties: Krypton is a noble gas and is highly
unreactive. It has a higher boiling and melting point than
neon and argon, but is still a gas at room temperature and
 pressure. Krypton emits a characteristic pale, whitish-
yellow glow when an electrical discharge is passed
through it.
Overall, krypton is a relatively rare element with limited
commercial uses. Its unique properties, including its high
melting and boiling point, make it an important subject of study
in the field of chemistry.

Xenon

Xenon is a chemical element with the symbol Xe and atomic

number 54. It is a noble gas and is colorless, odorless, and
tasteless. Xenon is the third heaviest noble gas, after radon and
oganesson.

Here are some key characteristics and properties of xenon:

 ● Abundance: Xenon makes up about 0.0000087% of the
Earth's atmosphere. It is also found in some minerals,
including the rare mineral xenotime.
● Production: Xenon is produced by the decay of
radioactive isotopes in the Earth's crust. It is also produced
in stars by the fusion of lighter elements.
● Uses: Xenon is used primarily in lighting, including high-
intensity discharge lamps and specialized light bulbs. It is
also used in some medical applications, including as an
anesthetic and in imaging studies such as MRI and PET
scans.
● Special Properties: Like other noble gases, xenon is
highly unreactive and does not form compounds with
other elements under normal conditions. It has a higher
boiling and melting point than krypton, and is less soluble
in water than krypton and argon. When subjected to an
electrical discharge, xenon emits a characteristic blue or
blue-violet glow.

Overall, xenon is an important element with a range of

industrial, medical, and scientific applications. Its unique
properties, including its use in lighting and medical imaging,
make it an important subject of study in the field of chemistry.

Radon
Radon is a chemical element with the symbol Rn and atomic
number 86. It is a radioactive, colorless, odorless, tasteless
noble gas that occurs naturally as a decay product of radium.
Radon is considered a health hazard due to its radioactivity and
ability to accumulate in indoor air.

Here are some key characteristics and properties of radon:

● Abundance: Radon is produced from the decay of

uranium and thorium in the Earth's crust. It is present in
varying concentrations in rocks, soils, and groundwater,
and can enter buildings through cracks and other openings
in the foundation.
● Production: Radon is produced naturally through the
decay of radioactive isotopes, primarily uranium-238 and
thorium-232. It can also be produced artificially through
the bombardment of thorium or radium with neutrons.
● Uses: Radon is primarily used in scientific research,
particularly in the study of radioactive decay and nuclear
physics. It is also used in some medical applications,
including in the treatment of certain cancers.
 ● Special Properties: Radon is highly radioactive, with a
half-life of about 3.8 days. It emits alpha particles, which
can cause damage to human tissue if inhaled or ingested.
Radon is a gas at standard temperature and pressure, and is
heavier than air.

Overall, radon is an important element with significant

implications for human health and scientific research. Its
unique properties, including its radioactivity and ability to
accumulate in indoor air, make it an important subject of study
in the field of chemistry and public health.

APPLICATION OF INERT GASES

There are numerous uses of inert gases or noble gases in

various fields especially in the field of metallurgy. Here we are
listing a few applications of each inert gas separately in many
fields.

HELIUM

Helium is used for the treatment of asthma, emphysema and

other breathing problems. Helium is used in balloons.Helium is
used in welding. Helium is used in industries for preventing
explosions. Helium is used for cryogenics. Liquid Helium is
used for magnetic resonance imaging. Helium is used in
semiconductor processing. Helium is used in laser processing
as well.

Neon

We used to use Neon in television tubes. Neon is also used in

cryogenics. Neon is used in signboards as on passing electricity
it glows brightly. Neon is used in lasers. Neon is used in wave
meter tubes.Neon is used to shield electrical equipment from
lightning. Neon is used in lighting systems such as lamps etc.
Neon gives different colours with metals such as mercury. It is
used for landscaping and interior design. Neon is used in parts
of aircraft.
Argon

Argon is used to create an inert atmosphere. It is used for the

production of titanium. It is used in welding.It is used in light
bulbs to prevent them from corrosion. It is used in the tires of
luxury cars to protect tires and reduce noise on the road. It is
used in double-glazed windows. It is used in radioisotope
dating. Being inert gas argon is used in heat treating processes
for matters. It is used in 3-D printing. It is used in metallurgy as
it prevents oxidation or rusting.

Krypton
It is used in tubes of fluorescent lights. It is used in flash lamps
which are used for high-speed photography. It is also used in
signboards. It is used in nuclear fusion energy research
experiments. It is used in constructing electromagnetic
calorimeters. It has application in MRI for imaging airways. It
is used in nuclear medicine for lung ventilation or perfusion
scans. It is used in satellites as a propellant.

Xenon

It is used in photographic flashes.It is used in high-pressure arc

lamps. It is used in bactericidal lamps which are used in food
preparation and processing. It is used in those lamps which are
used in ruby lasers. It is used in spacecraft. It is used in silicon
microprocessors to form a protective layer on it. Xenon lamps
can be used to kill bacteria. A mixture of oxygen and xenon
helps in increasing the number of RBCs in the blood. It is used
in NMR Spectroscopy. It is used in imaging the heart, brain and
lungs.

Radon

It is a chemically inert but radioactive element. It is used in

cancer therapy. It is used for the treatment of tumours. It is
used in radiation therapy. By measuring radon content, we can
track air masses. It is used in hydrological research. It is helpful
in earthquake predictions. It is used in industrial radiography. It
is used to cure arthritis. It is useful for obtaining polonium by
radioactive decomposition.

Isolation of Inert gases from atmosphere

Ramsay, along with his collaborator William Rayleigh,

discovered the existence of a new gas in the Earth's atmosphere
in 1894. This gas, which was found to be unreactive and non-
flammable, was named argon.
To isolate argon and other inert gases, Ramsay used a process
called fractional distillation. This process involves cooling air
until it liquefies, and then slowly allowing it to warm up. As
the air warms, different components of the air begin to
evaporate at different temperatures. By collecting the gas that
evaporates at a particular temperature range, Ramsay was able
to isolate argon and other inert gases.
Ramsay also discovered other inert gases such as helium, neon,
krypton, and xenon by using similar methods of fractional
distillation and chemical reactions. His work on the discovery
of these gases led to a greater understanding of the composition
of the Earth's atmosphere and the properties of different
elements.