Neon

Neon,  ₁₀Ne

General properties
Name, symbol	Neon, Ne
Appearance	Colorless gas Exhibits an orange-red glow when placed in a high voltage electric field
Neon in the periodic table
He ↑ Ne ↓ Ar Fluorine ← Neon → Sodium
Atomic number	10
Standard atomic weight (Ar)	20.1797(6)
Group, block	XVIII; p-block
Period	period 2
Electron configuration	[He] 2s2 2p6
per shell	2, 8
Physical properties
Colorless
Phase	Gas
Melting point	24.56 K ​(−248.59 °C, ​​−415.46 °F)
Boiling point	27.104 K ​(−246.046 °C, ​−410.883 °F)
Density at  (0 °C and 101.325 kPa)	0.9002 g/L
when liquid, at	1.207 g/cm3 (b.p.)
Triple point	24.556 K, ​43.37 kPa
Critical point	44.4918 K, 2.7686 MPa
Heat of fusion	0.335 kJ/mol
Heat of	1.71 kJ/mol
Molar heat capacity	20.79 J/(mol·K)
pressure
Atomic properties
Oxidation states	0
energies	1st: 2080.7 kJ/mol 2nd: 3952.3 kJ/mol 3rd: 6122 kJ/mol (more)
Covalent radius	58 pm
Van der Waals radius	154 pm
Miscellanea
Crystal structure	​face-centered cubic (fcc)
Speed of sound	435 m/s (gas, at 0 °C)
Thermal conductivity	49.1×10−3 W/(m·K)
Magnetic ordering	Diamagnetic
Bulk modulus	654 GPa
CAS Registry Number	7440-01-9
History
Prediction	William Ramsay (1897)
Discovery and first isolation	William Ramsay & Morris Travers (1898)

Neon is a chemical element with symbol Ne and atomic number 10.

Properties

Chemical

Neon does not react with any compounds and it's considered inert. While the ions Ne⁺, (NeAr)⁺, (NeH)⁺, and (HeNe⁺) have been observed from optical and mass spectrometric studies, neon does not form any true compounds.

Physical

Neon is a colorless, odorless, inert monatomic gas under standard conditions, with about two-thirds the density of air (0.9002 g/L).

Availability

Neon is sold by various suppliers, though it's quite expensive. Liquid neon is around 55 times more expensive than liquid helium.

Neon is often used in signs and produces an unmistakable bright reddish-orange light. However, some also contain other gasses.

Neon lamps can sometimes be found on various electronics. Other electronic devices where neon can be found are vacuum tubes, high-voltage indicators, lightning arresters, wave meter tubes, television tubes, and helium–neon lasers.

Isolation

Neon can be isolated through the fractional distillation of air, though this process is very expensive and unfeasible for the amateur chemist.

Projects

• Element collection
• Gas discharge tube
• Inert atmosphere (though it's an expensive one)

Handling

Safety

Neon is inert and does not have any toxic effects on inhalation, though it can be an asphyxiant at high concentrations.

Storage

Neon cylinders should be kept away from heat or light.

Disposal

Neon can be safely released in air.

References

Relevant Sciencemadness threads

• miniture neon lamps