n. Argon ami its Companions. 
Bif AVilltam Ramsaa’-, F.F.S., ami Morris W. Travers. 
Received Novemher 13,—Read Novemler 15, 1900. 
[Plates 1-3.] 
“ Nutum nihiJ agit frustru, if? tlie oidy indisputcd Axiome in Rhilosophy. There are no Grotesques in 
Natiu’e; not anything framed to fill up empty Cantons, and unnecessary spaces.”—Sni Thomas Browne’s 
‘ lieligio Ilcdiri.’ 
Contents. 
Introduction. . 
Apparatus employed. 
Preparation of Xeon : its density. 
Preparation of Krypton and Xenon ; their densities 
Vapour-pressures of Argon, Krypton, and Xenon. 
Molecular volumes of Argon, Kiypton, and Xenon 
Relationship of Pressure, Temperature, and Volume 
Refractivity. 
Spectra. 
General Conclusions. 
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Introduction. 
On June 9, 1898, we had the honour of giving tlie KSociety a preliminary account 
of “ Krypton, a new Constituent of Atmos})heric Air ” ; and on June IG, we brought 
to the notice of the Society the existence of two other gases in air, which we named 
“ Neon ” and “ Metargon.” And at the meeting of tlie British Association at Bristol, 
we gave a further short account of these gases, and also announced the discovery of 
yet another gas, still heavier than the former, which wm named “ Xenon.” In a note 
to ‘Nature’ in October, 1898, Mr. Baly called attention to the presence of helium 
lines in the spectrum of neon; the Dg line had lieen previously remarked in 
atmospheric air by Professor Kayser, of Bonn (‘ Chemical News,’ August 23, 
1895), and by Dr. Friedlander, of Berlin [ihid., December 9, 1895). 
Since publishing the preliminary notes referred to, we liave lieen engaged in a 
study of these gases; and we may say at tlie outset that we have failed to isolate 
29,7.1901. 
