IYC2011 - Argon Mystery Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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This is a cache in the IYC2011-series that is preparing for the
International Year of Chemistry in 2011. They will hopefully
increase chemistry knowledge as well as provide for good cache
experiences.
Each cache in the IYC2011-series contains a clue (on the log
sheet) to find the final IYC2011-cache to be released on
1/1/2011.
Argon
Argon is the chemical element with atomic number 18, represented by
the symbol Ar.
Argon is the third most common gas in the Earth's atmosphere, at
0.93% -- making it more common than carbon dioxide. It is the third
most abundant gas and the most frequently used of the noble gases.
The complete octet in the outer atomic shell makes it stable and
resistant to bonding with other elements.
Argon has approximately the same solubility in water as oxygen gas
and is 2.5 times more soluble in water than nitrogen gas. Argon is
colorless, odorless, and nontoxic as a solid, liquid, and gas.
Argon is inert under most conditions and forms no confirmed stable
compounds at room temperature.
Argon is produced industrially by the fractional distillation of
liquid air, a process that separates liquid nitrogen, which boils
at 77.3 K, from argon, which boils at 87.3 K and oxygen, which
boils at 90.2 K. About 700,000 tons of argon are produced worldwide
every year.
40Ar, the most abundant isotope of argon, is produced by
the decay of 40K with a half-life of 1.25 ×
109 years by electron capture or positron emission.
Because of this, it is used in potassium-argon dating to determine
the age of rocks.
Although argon is non-toxic, it does not satisfy the body's need
for oxygen and is thus an asphyxiant. Argon is 25% more dense than
air and is considered highly dangerous in closed areas. It is also
difficult to detect because it is colorless, odorless, and
tasteless. In confined spaces, it is known to result in death due
to asphyxiation.
Read more about Argon here or here.
The coordinates
N 58° 50.A
E 009° 05.B
A: (Abundance (%) of 38Ar * 1000) +2
B: (Number of stable Ar-isotopes * 100) - 1
Cache contents
- Logsheet
- Pencil
- FTF-certificate
- Various trading items
This cache will be maintained by myself and family in the area
on a monthly basis.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Haqre oenapu, haqre fznyy gerrf.