Lord Rayleigh & Professor William Ramsay, title 'Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, 1063, Hodgkins Fund, ARGON: A New Constituent of the Atmosphere, By Lord Rayleigh and Professor William Ramsey' Published by the Smithsonian Institution, City of Washington, 1896, green fabric binding with gilt lettering to top board, 33cm x 25cm

Lord Rayleigh was a distinguished British physicist known for his research in wave theory, optics, and gases. Educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, he made significant contributions to acoustics, fluid dynamics, and electromagnetism. He is best remembered for his discovery of Rayleigh scattering, which explains why the sky appears blue, and for his role in discovering argon alongside William Ramsay. Rayleigh’s experimental methods earned him the 1904 Nobel Prize in Physics, recognizing his contributions to the study of gases. His work laid the foundation for many modern scientific principles, and his research continues to influence physics today.

Sir William Ramsay was a Scottish chemist known for his discovery of the noble gases, which revolutionized the periodic table. Educated at the University of Glasgow and the University of Tübingen, Ramsay’s work led to the identification of neon, krypton, xenon, and radon, alongside argon. His collaboration with Lord Rayleigh resulted in the isolation of argon, a discovery that reshaped the understanding of atmospheric chemistry. Ramsay was awarded the 1904 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his contributions to the periodic table and the discovery of an entirely new group of elements. His work remains fundamental to the study of inert gases and their applications in science and industry.

The discovery of argon is considered a milestone in chemistry and physics, marking the first identification of a noble gas. Prior to Rayleigh and Ramsay’s work, scientists believed that atmospheric nitrogen was a pure element. However, through precise density measurements and chemical experiments, they demonstrated the existence of an unreactive gas that did not fit into known chemical classifications. This led to the introduction of a new group in the periodic table, the noble gases, which later included neon, krypton, xenon, and radon.

Published in 1896, Argon: A New Constituent of the Atmosphere details the research and experimental techniques used to isolate and confirm the existence of argon. The book provides an invaluable historical record of one of the most significant discoveries in modern chemistry.