Neon

A Sign Demonstrating the Glow of a Gas… Which Isn’t Actually Neon

Neon, like the other noble gases, is extremely inert and nonreactive (Stwertka, 53). It doesn’t even form any known compounds with any other elements! It is odorless and colorless, like Oxygen, and is the fifth most common element (gas) in the atmosphere. The concentration of Neon in air is about 0.002 percent, one tenth the concentration of Carbon Dioxide. Neon was discovered in 1898 by Sir William Ramsay, a chemist who recognized it as an element during experiments he was performing. This experiment was the fractional distillation of liquid air. Ramsay named it after neos, the Greek word, which means “new”.

Neon Sign Making is a Common Practice

Neon signs, like the ones which are so popular in the restaurant industry, contain neon gas which glows when energized by an electrical discharge. The reason behind this is that the neon atoms in the gas give off radiation in the form of orange-red light. Many signs are called “neon” signs, even though they could contain gasses other than Neon itself.Different gasses produce different colors, and each element produces a characteristic light signature. For example, Argon produces a purple light while Xenon produces a blue-green light. Neon is produced commercially as well. It is done in big air-liquefication plants. The boiling point of Neon is -229 degrees Celsius, and the Oxygen and Nitrogen gases are boiled off in the process.

Neon is an inert gas and it is economically important. Neon can provide manufacturing jobs, for the people harvesting the gas, and it can also make jobs in the artistic sector, for those who make signs. Neon is most commonly used for making signs, but it is also used as a refrigerant. Neon can also be used make several other appliances, ranging from lasers to television tubes.

Neon’s Periodic Square

Neon is in group 18 of the periodic table, period 2, block P. The atomic number persisting to Neon is 10. Neon has a very low boiling point (-246.046 C, -410.883 F, 27.104 K), and an even lower melting point (-248.59 C, -415.46 F, 24.56 K). It exists as a gas at room temperature (approximately 20 C). The electron configuration for Neon is 1s2, 2s2, 2p6. The abbreviated configuration is [He] 2s2, 2p6. The relative atomic mass is 20.180. The Atomic Radius, non-bonded, is 1.54, while the Covalent Radius is 0.62.