Neon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is found in trace amounts in Earth’s atmosphere (only about one part in 65,000). It is the fourth most abundant element in the universe and is commercially produced by distillation of liquefied air.
It is an inert gas that doesn’t form compounds with other elements under normal conditions. However, neon can form weak atomic-oxygen bonds or Van der Waals molecules under very low temperatures and high pressures, and it has been shown to crystallise. There are three known stable isotopes of neon; the most common, neon-20, accounts for about 90% of the naturally occurring neon in existence. Neon may be able to form compounds with fluorine under some conditions.
The most famous application of neon is the iconic “open” sign commonly seen in restaurants and other businesses. This sign is crafted from a glass tube inside which there is a vacuum (very low pressure) and a combination of neon and argon gases. When an electrical current passes through this tube, the atoms of these gases are excited and release energy in the form of light. The exact color of this light depends on the gases used and the specific electrical discharge.
A variety of other noble gas-based lighting is also available. Helium, for example, produces a bright orange glow and the noble gases krypton and xenon produce a range of cool colors. However, these other noble gas-based lights are not as efficient or cost effective for use in signage as neon.