tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261589.post4022680463145072140..comments2023-11-02T05:27:45.871-04:00Comments on The Culture of Chemistry: The pressure to preserveMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12617476463347663364noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261589.post-1510827059488990352009-09-07T13:14:39.997-04:002009-09-07T13:14:39.997-04:00Anon...yes, I noted that argon is now used in the ...Anon...yes, I noted that argon is now used in the last paragraph of this post: "New casements were designed about ten years ago, with argon as the gas of choice this time Sapphire ports are embedded to allow the atmosphere inside the cases to be monitored spectroscopically - by passing a beam of light through the port. Since the new methods of monitoring don't require the inert atmosphere to have a different thermal conductivity, it allows argon - which can't wiggle its way out the way helium can - to be used."Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12617476463347663364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261589.post-81409183797667129862009-09-07T12:38:22.446-04:002009-09-07T12:38:22.446-04:00According to this press release, it's argon, n...According to this press release, it's argon, not helium:<br /><br />http://www.archives.gov/press/press-kits/charters.html#pressrelease1Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261589.post-88265608219411678522009-09-01T11:53:47.254-04:002009-09-01T11:53:47.254-04:00The high thermal conductivity of helium also makes...The high thermal conductivity of helium also makes it a favorable coolant in nuclear reactors.Wavefunctionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14993805391653267639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261589.post-41843690536749152642009-08-18T14:36:16.502-04:002009-08-18T14:36:16.502-04:00Ah, I was trying to figure out why either would be...Ah, I was trying to figure out why either would be reactive anywhere. I love it - this will make a great example in a gas unit if I ever get a job.Kathryn Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16757414380685368592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261589.post-14237707843636024822009-08-18T14:29:09.876-04:002009-08-18T14:29:09.876-04:00Argon is probably just as unreactive in this situa...Argon is probably just as unreactive in this situation as helium, but its size makes it much less likely to leak out. Helium is notorious for leaking through many materials.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12617476463347663364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12261589.post-85839381173087828002009-08-18T13:27:19.048-04:002009-08-18T13:27:19.048-04:00Fascinating! I've visited those documents but...Fascinating! I've visited those documents but never thought much about the chemistry of preservation. Why is argon a better choice than helium? Is it just less reactive in general?Kathryn Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16757414380685368592noreply@blogger.com