What is the Difference Between Argon and Oxygen?

The main differences between argon and oxygen are their chemical properties and the effects they have on surfaces during plasma treatment:

1. Chemical Properties: Argon is an inert gas, meaning it has low chemical reactivity and does not easily form compounds with other elements. In contrast, oxygen is a highly reactive gas that readily forms compounds with most elements.
2. Surface Modification: Oxygen plasma is capable of surface modification, while argon plasma is not. Oxygen can etch surfaces, whereas argon only cleans them.
3. Cleaning Applications: Oxygen is commonly used to clean non-metal materials such as glass, plastics, and Teflon, while argon is often used to clean metals and prevent oxidation.
4. Overoxidation: If left in an oxygen plasma for too long, some plastics may be modified to the point where they become unbondable. However, argon is safe to use for longer periods of time.
5. Additional Requirements: In some cases, an oxidation-preventing gas like argon is needed for materials that oxidize easily (e.g., silver, copper) when using oxygen plasma.

In summary, argon and oxygen have distinct chemical properties and behave differently during plasma treatment. Argon is an inert gas that does not respond to surfaces, while oxygen is highly reactive and can modify surfaces. Argon is typically used for cleaning metals and preventing oxidation, while oxygen is often used for cleaning non-metals and etching surfaces.

Comparative Table: Argon vs Oxygen

Here is a table comparing the differences between argon and oxygen:

Argon is an inert gas, while oxygen is a highly reactive gas. Argon is a member of the noble gas family and does not react with most elements, while oxygen is part of the chalcogen group and reacts with nearly all elements under different conditions, except for noble gases and some less reactive metals. Oxygen has a higher chemical reactivity than argon and is one of the most abundant elements on Earth, while argon is less abundant.