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It's Elemental

The Element Neon

[Click for Isotope Data]

Neon

10 Ne Neon 20.1797

Atomic Number: 10

Atomic Weight: 20.1797

Melting Point: 24.56 K (-248.59°C or -415.46°F)

Boiling Point: 27.07 K (-246.08°C or -410.94°F)

Density: 0.0008999 grams per cubic centimeter

Phase at Room Temperature: Gas

Element Classification: Non-metal

Period Number: 2

Group Number: 18

Group Name: Noble Gas

What's in a name? From the Greek word for new, neos.

Say what? Neon is pronounced as NEE-on.

History and Uses:

Neon was discovered by Sir William Ramsay, a Scottish chemist, and Morris M. Travers, an English chemist, shortly after their discovery of the element krypton in 1898. Like krypton, neon was discovered through the study of liquefied air. Although neon is the fourth most abundant element in the universe, only 0.0018% of the earth's atmosphere is neon.

The largest use for neon gas is in advertising signs. Neon is also used to make high voltage indicators and is combined with helium to make helium-neon lasers. Liquid neon is used as a cryogenic refrigerant. Neon is highly inert and forms no known compounds, although there is some evidence that it could form a compound with fluorine.

Estimated Crustal Abundance: 5×10-3 milligrams per kilogram

Estimated Oceanic Abundance: 1.2×10-4 milligrams per liter

Number of Stable Isotopes: 3 (View all isotope data)

Ionization Energy: 21.565 eV

Oxidation States: 0

Electron Shell Configuration:

1s2

2s2   2p6

Citation and linking information

For questions about this page, please contact Carol McKisson.