Neon is a clear, odorless gas that glows red/orange when placed in vacuum discharge tubes. The light it produces is due to the fact that when electricity is passed through the tube, it excites the electrons of both neon and argon which then release their energy in the form of light. The color of neon lights is determined by the atoms and compounds used, the temperature of the tube, and the amount of current passing through it.
The process of preparing the tubes and filling them with neon is both art and science. First the glass is cleaned and coated. Then it is heated and softened so that it can be shaped into the client’s desired design. Finally, a vacuum is created in the tube to eliminate any air inside.
Unlike nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and argon which are found in the Earth’s atmosphere, neon is one of only three rare inert gases (the others are krypton and xenon) that can be isolated from dry air. According to the Minerals Education Coalition, this is because the element is highly volatile and can’t form compounds with solids. Neon is also found in large amounts in the planet-forming disks of young stars.
Although it is a very inert element, neon has been shown to form compounds with fluorine and appears to be able to form several unstable hydrates. Other than that, it doesn’t react with any other elements or liquids. However, neon does seem to form some ions, including (Ne+), (NeAr)+, and (NeH)+, which have been studied by using optical techniques and mass spectrometry.
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