Page:Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Vol 60.djvu/69

54 the high temperature of the arc, where any product would have a chance of escaping decomposition by removing itself from the source of heat. It is hardly necessary to point out that such a process lends itself to the formation of endothermic compounds such as acetylene, and it was to be supposed that if argon is capable of combination at all, the resulting compound must be produced by an endothermic reaction.

2. A product rich in barium cyanide was made by the action of producer gas on a mixture of barium carbonate and carbon at the intense temperature of the arc. This product was treated by Dumas’ process so as to recover all nitrogen; and, as argon might also have entered into combination, the nitrogen was absorbed by sparking. All the nitrogen entered into combination with oxygen and soda, leaving no residue. Hence it may be concluded that no argon enters into combination. For the successful carrying out of these experiments we have to thank Mr. G. W. MacDonald.

3. A mixture of argon with the vapour of carbon tetrachloride was exposed for several hours to a silent discharge from a very powerful induction coil. The apparatus was connected with a gauge which registered the pressure of the vapour of the tetrachloride and of the argon of which it was mixed. Careful measurement of the pressure was made before commencing the experiment, and after its completion. Although a considerable amount of other chlorides of carbon was produced, no alteration of pressure was noticeable; the liberated chlorine having been absorbed by the mercury present. Here again the argon did not enter into the reaction, but it was recovered without loss of volume.

The remaining experiments relate to attempts to produce compounds of helium. The plan of operation was to circulate helium over the reagent at a bright red heat, and to observe whether any alteration in volume occurred—an absorption of a few c.c. could have been observed—or whether any marked change was produced in the reagent employed. As a rule, after the reagent had been allowed to cool in the gas, all helium was removed with the pump, and the reagent was again heated to redness, so as, if a compound had been formed, to decompose it and expel the helium. Every experiment gave negative results ; in no case was there any reason to suspect that helium had entered into combination.

A short catalogue of the substances tried may be given.

4. Sodium distilled in the current of gas, and condensed in drops with bright metallic lustre. The glass tube in which it was heated became covered with a coating of

5. Silicon, which caused no absorption.

6. A mixture of beryllium oxide and magnesium, yielding metallic beryllium, was without action.