Neon is a chemical element which is the second lightest of the noble gases and is part of group 18 on the periodic table. The group also includes helium, argon, krypton and xenon.
Neon can be found naturally in the atmosphere in very small amounts. It was discovered in 1898 by Sir William Ramsay and Morris Travers when they were experimenting with liquid air.
It is colorless and odorless at room temperature. It is a nonreactive gas, meaning that it does not form compounds with other elements.
Despite its inertness, neon is very dangerous to breathe in. Breathing in too much of it can cause suffocation and can lead to dizziness, nausea, loss of consciousness and death.
This inert gas is very rare and is very expensive on Earth because it has to be distilled from air. It is used for high-voltage switching gear, indicators and lightning arrestors and as a cryogenic refrigerant with a higher refrigerating capacity than liquid helium or hydrogen.
A common application for neon is as a light source, particularly in signs and lasers. It is also used to make fluorescent lamps, Geiger counters and television tubes.
How neon is made
The most common way to make a neon lamp is by filling a glass tube with neon gas. The glass tube is then heated and softened, bent into a shape, and coated with a protective coating.
The neon gas is then illuminated by a few thousand volts of electricity. The electricity causes the neon atoms inside the tube to split and liberate electrons, which are then attracted to the positive electrode at one end of the neon tube. These electrons then bounce around the tube and complete the light circuit, giving off a red-orange glow.
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