Neon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that belongs to the noble gases group of elements. It is highly inert and does not react with other elements or compounds. It is a nonmetal and a diamagnetic element, and has only three stable isotopes.
It was discovered in 1898 by chemists William Ramsay of Scotland and Morris Travers of England. Ramsay had previously isolated argon and helium, so he knew an element had to sit between them on the Periodic Table. Neon has since found a wide variety of uses, from bending it into letters and brand names in signs to using it in discharge tubes and high-voltage indicators. It is also used in masers and combined with helium to create neon-helium lasers.
In a vacuum discharge tube, neon absorbs electrons and gains energy. Some of this energy is released as light, which has a characteristic reddish-orange color. The rest of the energy is trapped in atoms and used to produce more light. The energy in the atoms can only be absorbed at certain points along the electron’s orbit, so it is emitted as specific wavelengths of light.
Neon is nontoxic and poses no ecological damage, although it can irritate the lungs. It can be fatal, however, if inhaled in large enough quantities. Asphyxiation symptoms start with rapid respirations, followed by air hunger and diminished mental alertness. This can lead to fumbling and confusion, then vomiting and eventually loss of consciousness.
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