Neon

media type="custom" key="11441146" = Neon  = (NEE-on)



Fast Facts:

 * Symbol ~ Ne
 * Atomic Number ~ 10
 * Atomic Mass ~ 20.180
 * Density ~ 0.9g
 * State at r.t.p. ~ Gas
 * Boiling Point ~ -246.08° Celsius
 * Melting Point ~ -248.59° Celsius
 * Appearance ~ Colorless gas normally, but when it is put into a vacuum discharge tube it will glow a orange-reddish color.
 * Group ~ 18 The Noble Gases
 * Isolation ~ Is present in small amounts in the atmosphere and can be obtained by liquefaction
 * Isotopes ~ Ne - 16, Ne - 17, Ne - 18, Ne - 19, Ne - 20, Ne - 21, Ne - 22, Ne - 23, Ne - 24, Ne - 25, Ne - 26, Ne - 27, Ne - 28, Ne - 29, Ne - 30, Ne - 31, Ne - 32, Ne - 33, Ne - 34
 * Common Compounds ~ Neon does not form any known compounds, but there is evidence that it may, in fact, form one with its neighbor Fluorine.
 * How reactive is it? ~ Neon is not very reactive because it already has eight valence electrons and has fulfilled the octet rule. It has the lowest reactivity of all elements.

History
Neon was discovered in 1898 by Sir William Ramsay and Morris M. Travers. Neon, like its fellow Noble Gas Krypton, was found by the process of liquefaction. The word Neon comes from the Greek word meaning new. After the discovery, Neon was put to good use only to be slowed some by economic depression.

Uses of Neon
Neon has many uses. The first gaseous laser combined Helium and Neon. Businesses started to develop Neon signs for advertisement. Many places, such as Times Square and Las Vegas, still use them today. High voltage indicators, lightning arrestors, and TV tubes also are main uses. Liquid Neon is used as a cryogenic refrigerant. Liquid Neon has a forty times better refrigerating power than liquid Helium and three times liquid hydrogen.

Lighting of Neon
Neon, as seen in the picture above, can be lit up to glow an orange-reddish color. This can be achieved by running electrons through a tube of Neon gas (air has been removed by a vacuum). The voltage causes the gas to glow the reddish color. The Neon lights do not have filaments because it is the gas that actually glows itself. Although Neon glows orange, Neon signs can glow any color because the name "Neon" signs is a general term and Argon or other gases can be used.

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Fun Facts
Did you know that Neon comes from the Greek word, //neos,// meaning new? Neon is the fifth most abundant element in the universe. Neon actually makes up about 0.0018% of Earth's atmosphere.