What is Neon?

Neon is a chemical element with symbol Ne and atomic number 10. It’s classified as a noble gas, meaning it is inert under normal conditions and has low chemical reactivity. It’s found naturally in the planet-forming disks of young stars, and it is also used as a lighting component for iconic neon signs. Neon is colorless, odorless, and has two-thirds the density of air. It’s a monatomic gas under standard conditions, but it glows a bright red-orange when electricity passes through it.

Neon reacts very rarely with other elements, but it does form compounds under specific conditions. It can form clathrates and Van der Waals molecules with fluorine, but these are only stable at very low temperatures. The gas is inert to all other known chemicals and is nonflammable, noncombustible, and nontoxic. In high concentrations, it acts primarily as a simple asphyxiant. (source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Handling Hazardous Substances, 1980)

The glowing neon we see in signage is produced when the atoms of the gas are ionized by applying an electric current across the tube. This causes the atoms to shed electrons, transforming them into positively charged ions that gravitate towards one electrode while free electrons migrate towards the other. The resulting plasma of charged ions and electrons carries the electrical current. In a properly designed tube, this process can be repeated continuously, producing a constant glow. The luminous properties of neon make it an ideal light source for neon signs, as well as many other applications.