I want to qualitatively test for the presence of oxygen within argon gas. I would like the test to be positive if approx $1\%$ or more is oxygen, but definitely negative if less than $0.1\%$. Anywhere in between is fine—A quantitative test is a bonus. I was thinking of heating iron filings in the gas to deduce it. I'm not sure what apparatus and setup I would need since heating gas expands, I would like to use ultra low tech equipment. I'm thinking of using water or cooking oil displacement to hold the extra gas, but I don't know if argon would dissolve, or how much oxygen would dissolve. Preferably a nonflammable, certainly nontoxic liquids (or tests).
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$\begingroup$ What is the idea of this analysis? Do You want to monitor a argon stream? Do You want to check the argon in a cylinder You purchased? $\endgroup$– GeorgJun 28, 2012 at 21:14
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$\begingroup$ Yes I would like to test argon in a cylinder I purchased (sorry for delay responding) $\endgroup$– CL22Jul 4, 2012 at 15:27
1 Answer
This should do it
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/Weather_p004.shtml