Technical Information of NEON Sign

The element neon is represented by the symbol 'Ne'. It is an inert gas with atomic number 10. There are three stable isotopes (atoms having same atomic number and different atomic weights) of neon with atomic weights 20, 21, and 22. Besides this, neon element has twelve other unstable radioactive isotopes. It is colorless and exist in the gaseous state in room temperature. Due to its light-weight and inert noble gas properties, neon occurs rarely on the Earth. In fact, it is present in trace amounts (0.0018 percent) in atmospheric air. For industrial applications, neon is obtained from air.

Quick Facts about Neon

• The term neon is coined from the Greek word neos which means new.
• Neon is the fifth most abundant chemical element in the universal scale.
• Amongst the noble gases, neon stood second as the lightest gas, next to helium.
• The melting point of neon is -248.59 °C, whereas its boiling point is -246.08 °C.
• The triple point of neon is -249 °C or 24.57 K, meaning all the three phases of neon (gas, liquid, and solid) coexist at this temperature.
• In nature, it exhibits a cubic crystal structure.
• Neon is discovered by Sir William Ramsay and Morris M. Travers in 1898.
• For extraction of neon, atmospheric air is liquefied first, which is then followed by fractional distillation technique.
• It is believed that neon reacts with fluorine to form compounds.
• Neon gas forms an unstable hydrate, when reacts with water.
• Liquid neon is more compact and less expensive in comparison to liquid helium.
• Inhalation of neon gas can cause supersaturation of air, resulting in suffocation.
• Volcanic eruptions contain high amounts of neon gases.