Neon (Ne) is a colorless, non-metallic, extremely inert gas with the atomic number ten. In a vacuum tube, this member of the noble gas class glows reddish orange. The chemical element neon has the symbol Ne and the atomic number 10. It is classified as a noble gas. Under normal conditions, neon is a colorless, odorless, inert monatomic gas with about two-thirds the density of air.
Interesting facts about Neon:
In 1898, Sir William Ramsay and Morris Travers discovered neon while experimenting with liquid air.
Prior to discovering neon, the scientists had only recently discovered krypton and would soon discover xenon.
When nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and carbon dioxide are removed from air, neon, krypton, and xenon are left over.
The Earth’s atmosphere contains trace amounts of neon.
The concentration of neon in the atmosphere is approximately 1 part in 55,000, or 18.2 parts per million (ppm) by volume or 1 part in 79,000 by mass of air.
It can be produced commercially as a byproduct of air liquefaction.
Neon is roughly two-thirds the density of air.
After helium, neon is the second lightest inert gas and the second lightest noble gas.
There are three stable isotopes.
Georges Claude started making neon lighting in 1902 because he had leftover neon from his air liquefaction company.
Georges Claude attempted to create interior home lighting using neon lights in vacuum tubes in 1910, but homeowners rejected the idea due to its color.
Neon has a refrigerating capacity forty times that of liquid helium and three times that of liquid hydrogen.
After hydrogen, helium, oxygen, and carbon, neon is the fifth most abundant chemical element in the universe.
It has a mass abundance of about one part in 750 in the universe.
Due to the scarcity of neon, liquid neon is approximately 55 times more expensive than liquid helium.
While neon glows a reddish orange in commercial signage, other noble gases produce the other neon colors.
Neon FAQs
- What is neon?
Neon is a chemical element with the symbol Ne and atomic number 10. It’s an inert gas, meaning it rarely reacts with other elements. Neon is the fourth most abundant element in the universe, but it’s quite rare in Earth’s atmosphere, making up only about 0.0018%.
- What makes neon lights glow?
Neon signs aren’t actually filled with pure neon gas that creates the vibrant colors we see. While pure neon does emit a reddish-orange glow, other techniques are used to achieve a wider range of colors.
- Colored phosphors: The glass tubes are coated with phosphors that glow in specific colors when struck by the electricity running through the neon gas.
- Other gases: Mixing neon with other noble gases like argon can produce different colors.
- Tinted glass: The glass tubes themselves can be tinted to influence the final color.
- Are neon signs and LED signs the same thing?
Both neon signs and LED signs are used for creating illuminated displays, but they have some key differences:
- Material: Neon signs use fragile glass tubes filled with gas, while LED signs use flexible plastic tubes with light-emitting diodes.
- Energy efficiency: LED signs are significantly more energy-efficient than neon signs.
- Safety: LED signs operate at a much lower voltage, making them safer than neon signs with high voltage requirements.
- Color options: Both neon and LED signs can achieve a wide range of colors, though neon signs may have a more limited color palette without phosphor coatings.
- Cost: LED signs are generally cheaper to purchase and maintain than traditional neon signs.
- Are neon signs safe?
Traditional neon signs are generally safe when installed and maintained properly. However, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- High voltage: Neon signs operate at high voltage, so it’s important to never touch a damaged sign or attempt to repair it yourself.
- Fragile glass: Glass tubes can break, especially if the sign is bumped or mishandled.
- Mercury: Some older neon signs may contain small amounts of mercury, which is a hazardous material. It’s important to have these signs disposed of properly.
- How long do neon signs last?
With proper care, a neon sign can last for 10-15 years or even longer. The lifespan depends on factors like the quality of the construction, the operating environment, and how often the sign is turned on and off.
