Neon Facts – Ne or Atomic Number 10

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Neon Facts

Neon is the element of the periodic table with atomic number 10 and element symbol Ne. Most people know this element for its popularity in neon signs, even though these are less common than in the past. These neon facts contain chemical and physical data along with general information and history.

Basic Neon Facts

Element cell for Neon

Name: Neon

Atomic Number: 10

Element Symbol: Ne

Group: 18

Period: 2

Block: p

Element Family: noble gas

Atomic Mass: 20.1797(6)

Electron Configuration: [He]2s22p6 (shorthand) or 1s22s22p6 (full)

Discovery: Sir William Ramsay and Morris W. Travers in 1898.

Ramsay had already discovered argon and helium. He deduced there must be an element on the periodic table that would appear between the two. Ramsay and Travers eventually separated gases from liquid air under reduced pressure. They ionized their samples to obtain their spectra. One sample glowed with a vivid red-orange light never seen before. They knew right away they had discovered the element neon.

Name Origin: Ramsay named the element neon from the Greek word neos meaning new.

Neon Isotopes

Natural neon consists of three stable isotopes: 20Ne, 21Ne and 22Ne. Sixteen Radioactive isotopes have been produced under laboratory conditions ranging from 16Ne to 34Ne.

20Ne
Neon-20 is a stable isotope containing 10 neutrons. 90.48% of natural neon is neon-20.

21Ne
Neon-21 is a stable isotope containing 11 neutrons. 0.27% of natural neon is neon-21.

22Ne
Neon-22 is a stable isotope containing 12 neutrons. 9.25% of natural neon is neon-22.

Sources

Stars make neon via fusion of oxygen and helium in the alpha-capture process. Extraction of neon is via fractional distillation of the gases in air. As one of the lighter gases, neon extraction occurs following the removal of argon and krypton. The leading supplier of neon is Ukraine.

Neon Uses

Neon’s unique properties make it valuable in various applications:

  • Neon Signs: In advertising and decoration, producing a bright red-orange glow.
  • High-Voltage Indicators: In electrical equipment to indicate the presence of high voltage.
  • Cryogenics: A cryogenic refrigerant due to its low boiling point.
  • Lasers: In helium-neon lasers, which are common in scientific research and various measurement devices.
  • Vacuum Tubes: In the manufacturing of vacuum tubes and wave meter tubes.
  • Lighting: In certain types of high-intensity discharge lamps.

Biological Role and Health Effects

Neon is biologically inert and has no known role in biological systems. It is non-toxic and does not pose any health hazards to humans or other organisms. Because it is chemically inert, it does not react with body tissues or other substances, making it safe for use in various applications.

Physical Data

Density: 0.000825 g/cm3

Melting Point: 24.56 K (−248.59 °C, ​−415.46 °F

Boiling Point: 27.104 K ​(−246.046 °C, ​−410.883 °F)

Triple Point: 24.5561 K at ​43.37 kPa

Critical Point: 44.4918 K, 2.7686 MPa

State at 20ºC: Gas

Heat of Fusion: 0.335 kJ/mol

Heat of Vaporization: 1.71 kJ/mol

Molar Heat Capacity: 20.79 J/mol·K

Neon atom
Electron configuration of a neon atom.

Atomic Data

Atomic Radius: 1.54 Å

Covalent Radius: 0.58 Å

Van der Waals Radius:  1.54 Å

Electron Affinity: not stable

Electronegativity: unknown

1st Ionization Energy: 2080.662 kJ/mol

2nd Ionization Energy: 3952.325 kJ/mol

3rd Ionization Energy: 6121.99 kJ/mol

Crystal Structure: face-centered cubic (fcc)

Magnetic Ordering: non-magnetic

Oxidation State: 0

Neon Discharge Tube
Ionized neon gas in a discharge tube. Credit: Alchemist-hp/Creative Commons)

Fun Neon Facts

  • Neon is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas at room temperature.
  • Neon is the fourth most abundant element in the universe but is relatively rare on Earth. Only one part in 55,000 parts of air is neon.
  • Neon does not naturally bond with other elements. It is even less reactive than helium. However, neon forms weak chemical bonds with fluorine under certain conditions.
  • The famous neon sign was invented in 1910 by Georges Claude. They debuted at the Paris Expo.
  • Neon is monatomic and is lighter than the diatomic elements of nitrogen and oxygen in air. If you fill a balloon with neon gas, it floats like a helium filled balloon, but rises more slowly.
  • Neon finds use in lightning arresters on power lines and telephone poles.
  • The only commercial source of neon is air.
  • Liquid neon is a refrigerant. It has forty times the cooling capacity per volume of liquid helium and over three times as liquid hydrogen.

Learn more about elements on the periodic table.

References

  • Clayton, Donald (2003). Handbook of Isotopes in the Cosmos: Hydrogen to Gallium. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521823814.
  • Hammond, C. R. (2000). “The Elements.” Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (81st ed.). CRC press. ISBN 0849304814.
  • Hwang, Shuen-Chen; Lein, Robert D.; Morgan, Daniel A. (2005). “Noble Gases”. Kirk Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. Wiley. doi:10.1002/0471238961.0701190508230114.a01.pub2
  • Ramsay, William; Travers, Morris W. (1898). “On the Companions of Argon”. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. 63 (1): 437–440. doi:10.1098/rspl.1898.0057