Neon is the second element in Group 18 of the periodic table, a group of elements known as the inert or noble gases. Neon's atomic number is 10, its atomic mass is 20.179, and its chemical symbol is Ne.

Properties

Neon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas with a boiling point of -410.66°F (-245.92°C), a freezing point of -415.5°F (-248.6°C), and a density of 0.89994 grams per liter. Neon is chemically inert. No compound of the element has ever been made.

Occurrence and Extraction

Neon occurs in the Earth's atmosphere where it is the fifth most abundant gas, with an abundance of about 18.2 parts per million (0.0182%). It is produced for commercial use by the fractional distillation of liquid air.

Discovery and Naming

Neon was discovered in 1898 by two British chemists, William Ramsay and Morris Travers (1872-1961). Ramsay and Travers attempted to identify the very small amount of liquid left after oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and argon had been extracted from liquid air by traditional methods of fractional distillation. They analyzed the remaining liquid spectroscopically and found three new sets of spectral lines. They attributed those lines to the presence of three new elements, which they named neon, krypton, and xenon. The name neon is taken from the Greek word neos meaning "new."

Uses

The most important single use for neon is in the manufacture of "neon" lights. A "neon" light is a lamp filled with a gas (such as neon) at low pressure through which an electric current flows. The electric current causes the gas to fluoresce, giving off some distinctive color. A variety of gases are used in "neon" lights, each chosen for the distinctive color it produces. Neon is also used in the manufacture of lasers employed in industry and surgery.