Neon is a noble gas (Group 18 of the Periodic Table) found in microscopic quantities in our atmosphere. It was discovered by chemists William Ramsay and Morris Travers in 1898. They liquefied air and found that the resulting gas gave off a bright orange-red glow when exposed to electric current. The neon sign, which was invented by Georges Claude in 1910, is the element’s most well-known application.
Like other noble gases, including argon, krypton, and xenon, neon does not react with any other substance, because its outer shell has 8 full valence electrons and is unwilling to swap them with other elements. This gives them a unique property, called inertness, which means that they do not form compounds with other chemicals.
In its pure gaseous state, neon is odorless and colorless. It is a very heavy gas, with the density of approximately two-thirds that of air. As a result, a neon balloon would rise about as slowly as a helium balloon.
Inhalation of high concentrations of neon can cause simple asphyxiation. The first symptoms are rapid respirations and a feeling of air hunger. Other symptoms include weakness, confusion, and a decreased level of consciousness. Symptoms can progress to convulsions, a deep coma and death. Seek emergency medical attention immediately. The CAMEO Chemicals database is free of charge and available to everyone, but use is subject to copyright restrictions of the companies or organizations that provided the data. More information about CAMEO is available in the NIOSH manual, Documentation of TLVs and BEIs with Other World Wide Occupational Exposure Values, CD-ROM Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, 1998.