Neon is a chemical element with symbol Ne and atomic number 10. It is a noble gas of Group 18, and the first group 18 element of p-block. Neon is a colorless, odorless, inert monatomic gas under standard conditions, with about two-thirds the density of air.
Neon is chemically inert, and no uncharged neon compounds are known. The compounds of neon currently known include ionic molecules, molecules held together by van der Waals forces and clathrates.
Neon is well-known due to its chemical characteristics; Neon glows reddish orange in a vacuum discharge tube, and Neon plasma has the most intense light discharge at normal voltages and currents of all the noble gases. Because of this neon is often used in neon lighting, including neon signs. Neon was the first gas used to produce illuminated, attention-getting details on signs. For that reason, all such signage is referred to as "neon", regardless of the gas being used.
Neon is produced from air in cryogenic air-separation plants. Around 70% of neon is produced in Ukraine. The 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine led to neon-producing factories being destroyed, leading to a neon shortage.
Discovery[]
Neon was discovered (along with krypton and xenon) in 1898 as one of the three residual rare inert elements remaining in dry air, after nitrogen, oxygen, argon and carbon dioxide were removed. Neon was the second of these three rare gases to be discovered and was immediately recognized as a new element from its bright red emission spectrum. The name neon is derived from the Greek word, νέον, neuter singular form of νέος (neos), meaning new.
Formation and Occurrence[]
Neon is naturally formed in red supergiant stars. Its most abundant isotope 20Ne , which makes up 90.48% of neon in the universe, is formed by the nuclear fusion of carbon, which occurs in the cores of stars that are more than 8 solar masses.
Neon is abundant in the universe, but relatively rare on Earth. It is the fifth most abundant element in the universe, at about one part in 750. Neon compromises 1 part in 55,000 in Earth’s atmosphere, which is 0.001818%, making it the fifth most abundant element in the atmosphere. Neon compromises a smaller amount in Earth’s crust.