Neon is a chemical element that has the symbol Ne and atomic number 10. It is a member of group 18 in the periodic table, which also includes helium, argon, krypton and xenon.
It is the second lightest noble gas, after helium. It glows reddish orange when electricity is applied to it, making it a common ingredient in different types of lights.
To create neon signs, you’ll need a glass tube that is filled with a small amount (low pressure) of neon gas. Then, you’ll place electrodes at either end of the tube. The electric current passes through the tube and knocks out the atoms belonging to the neon gas, producing a bright light.
A neon sign can be made in a variety of colours using straight gas, mixed gases and elements, colored glass tubing or fluorescent tubing. This is because the different gases react differently when combined with electricity, so you can use different ones for different colours.
The most common way to make neon lights is by applying an electrical current to the neon atoms. This accelerates a free electron in the neon atoms up to some maximum kinetic energy, causing it to collide with the surrounding atoms. This produces a plasma of charged ions and electrons, which carry the electric current between the electrodes in the neon tubes.
Neon is a rare gas that makes up only 0.00182% of the atmosphere on Earth. It is very rare in liquid and gaseous forms, so it’s a very expensive element on our planet.
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