The iconic neon signs you see on shop windows and in city streets are created by a series of glass tubes filled with a gas. Alternating current from two electrodes (one negative, one positive) running through the tubes produces a reddish-orange glow. The construction of these tubes, the type of transformer model used to supply the alternating current and the covering color all affect the functionality and lifespan of the sign.
Neon is a noble gas, which means it forms very few compounds with other elements, and has a low chemical reactivity. It belongs to group 18 of the periodic table, along with helium, argon, krypton, xenon and radon. It was discovered by British scientists William Ramsay and Morris Travers in 1898, according to Chemicool.
As a gas, neon appears as a clear, odorless, nonflammable and nontoxic substance. It can, however, act as a simple asphyxiant and can displace oxygen in the air. Neon is not reactive, but under some laboratory conditions it can form a compound with fluorine.
When a light is switched on, ions within the gas “recapture” electrons and are then released, creating photons that produce the characteristic red-orange glow of neon lights. The ions also emit some heat, although less than a conventional light bulb with the same power output. The color of the glow depends on the energy of the ions. Unlike the other noble gases, neon is a nonmetal element. This makes it less prone to corrosion than metals.
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