What is Neon?

neon

Neon is a rare, inert gas that glows reddish orange in an electric discharge. It is a noble gas and a nonmetal element, first discovered in 1898 by British chemists William Ramsay and Morris Travers. It is the second-lightest noble gas, after Helium. Its name comes from the Greek word neos, meaning new.

When a few thousand volts are applied to a tube of neon, electrons in its atoms gain energy and become excited. This energy is emitted as a photon, resulting in the neon light you see in signs and other illuminations.

Although the cosmos contain much more neon than oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen, it is very scarce on Earth because its high volatility makes it difficult to anchor to solids. It is also unable to form compounds with other elements. It is believed that this volatility enabled it to escape from planetesimals during the early Solar System’s nascent Sun’s heat.

Neon’s bright, vibrant colors make it a popular choice for accents and call-to-action buttons on websites, apps, and other digital platforms. However, it’s important to keep neon usage limited in order to maintain design consistency and avoid visual overload. Pairing neon with darker shades creates contrast and prevents it from looking jarring or unnatural.