Ne
Neon is a noble gas famous for the bright reddish-orange light it emits in discharge tubes.
Physical Properties
| Atomic Mass | 20.18 u |
| Density | 0.0008999 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 24.56 K |
| Boiling Point | 27.07 K |
| Appearance | Colorless gas, reddish-orange glow in discharge |
| State at Room Temp | Gas |
Chemical Properties
| 1st Ionization Energy | 2080.7 kJ/mol |
| Electron Affinity | -116.0 kJ/mol |
| Oxidation States | 0 |
Atomic Properties
| Electron Configuration | [He] 2s2 2p6 |
| Atomic Radius | 38.0 pm |
| Covalent Radius | 58.0 pm |
| Van der Waals Radius | 154.0 pm |
Discovery
| Discovered By | William Ramsay, Morris Travers |
| Discovery Year | 1898 |
| Location | London, England |
| Named After | Greek 'neos' meaning new |
About Neon
Neon is a colorless, inert noble gas that gives a distinctive reddish-orange glow in vacuum discharge tubes. It is the fifth most abundant element in the universe but rare on Earth. Neon has no true chemical compounds and has the narrowest liquid range of any element.
Uses & Applications
Neon signs and lighting, high-voltage indicators, helium-neon lasers, and cryogenic refrigeration.
Fun Fact
Although we call all colorful gas-discharge tube signs 'neon signs,' only the red-orange ones actually contain neon; other colors use different gases.
Isotopes
| Mass Number | Abundance | Half-Life | Stable |
| 20 | 0.9048% | - | Yes |
| 21 | 0.0027% | - | Yes |
| 22 | 0.0925% | - | Yes |
Electron Configuration
[He] 2s2 2p6