Introduction
Neon is an inert gas and one of the members of the noble gas family located in group 18. Its atomic number is 10 whereas its atomic mass is 20. Neon has 10 electrons. It has 10 protons and 10 neutrons in its nucleus. Neon is represented by the symbol “Ne”.
Naming and History
The name Neon is from the Greek word “Neos” which means new.
- William Ramsay and Morris Travers
In 1898, William Ramsay and Morris Travers discovered the neon at University College London. Ramsay also had discovered argon gas in 1894 and obtained the first sample of helium. He observed that an element was missing between helium and argon.
Ramsay and Morris evaporated liquid argon and isolated krypton gas. They used a similar method for the isolation of neon as they knew there should be a gas with a lighter weight. This time they evaporated solid argon at low pressure.
They collected the first gas which was emitted and put the sample into the atomic spectrometer. The sample showed bright red lines. They were successful in discovering neon and Ramsay named this new gas neon from Greek Neos.
Occurrence of Neon
Neon is the fifth most abundant element in Universe but it is rare on Earth. Earth’s atmosphere contains only 0.0018% of neon. Neon mostly forms in stars and the sun. Some traces of neon can be found in volcanoes, vents, and diamonds. But commercially it is obtained by fractional distillation of liquid air.
Properties of Neon
Neon is a monoatomic inert gas. It is very light and colorless. But it glows reddish-orange in discharge tubes. Neon has the narrowest liquid range of any element which is 2.6 ᵒC. The melting point of neon is -248.59°C and its boiling point is -246.08°C.
It has a density of 0.0008999 grams per cubic centimeter. Neon exists as a gas at room temperature. It is an inert gas and does not react with other elements. But some studies and evidence suggest that it may react with fluorine.
Neon in Biological Systems
There is no known role of neon in living systems and is considered to be non-toxic. But neon in absence of oxygen can cause respiratory problems and asphyxiation. The liquid neon on contact with skin can cause severe frostbite.
Uses of Neon
- The largest use of neon is in neon signs and advertising boards. It glows reddish-orange in the discharge tube. Other colors are produced by coating glass with different color phosphor.
- Neon is used in indicators, television tubes, lightning arrestors, etc.
- It is commercially used as a cryogenic refrigerant. It is 40 times more effective than helium and three times better than liquid hydrogen.
- Neon light can pass through water fog. That’s why it is used in extremely colder regions, aircraft and airports.
Isotopes of Neon
There are 14 known isotopes from mass number 16 to 29. There are three naturally occurring stable isotopes which are Ne- 20, Ne- 21, Ne- 22. Ne- 20 is abundant with 90.5 percent.
MCQs about Neon
- What is the atomic number of neon?
- A) 8
- B) 10
- C) 18
- D) 20
- Answer: B) 10
- What is the atomic mass of neon?
- A) 18
- B) 20
- C) 10
- D) 8
- Answer: B) 20
- What is the symbol for neon?
- A) Na
- B) Ne
- C) Ni
- D) No
- Answer: B) Ne
- Who discovered neon, and when did the discovery take place?
- A) Marie Curie in 1902
- B) William Ramsay and Morris Travers in 1898
- C) Dmitri Mendeleev in 1869
- D) Antoine Lavoisier in 1778
- Answer: B) William Ramsay and Morris Travers in 1898
- What is the origin of the name “Neon”?
- A) Bright and shining
- B) Hidden
- C) New
- D) Noble
- Answer: C) New
- How did William Ramsay and Morris Travers discover neon?
- A) By isolating it from water
- B) By evaporating solid argon at low pressure
- C) By extracting it from helium
- D) By synthesizing it in a laboratory
- Answer: B) By evaporating solid argon at low pressure
- Where is neon commercially obtained from?
- A) Volcanoes
- B) Vents
- C) Fractional distillation of liquid air
- D) Diamonds
- Answer: C) Fractional distillation of liquid air
- What is the melting point of neon?
- A) -273.15°C
- B) -248.59°C
- C) 0°C
- D) 100°C
- Answer: B) -248.59°C
- In what state does neon exist at room temperature?
- A) Solid
- B) Liquid
- C) Gas
- D) Plasma
- Answer: C) Gas
- What is the density of neon?
- A) 0.0012 grams per cubic centimeter
- B) 0.0008999 grams per cubic centimeter
- C) 0.01 grams per cubic centimeter
- D) 0.1 grams per cubic centimeter
- Answer: B) 0.0008999 grams per cubic centimeter
- What is the primary use of neon in the commercial sector?
- A) Cryogenic refrigerant
- B) Medical imaging
- C) Lighting products
- D) Welding
- Answer: C) Lighting products
- Is neon considered toxic in living systems?
- A) Yes
- B) No
- Answer: B) No
- What is the primary risk associated with liquid neon on skin contact?
- A) Allergic reaction
- B) Frostbite
- C) Burns
- D) Rash
- Answer: B) Frostbite
- How is neon used in extremely colder regions, aircraft, and airports?
- A) As a cryogenic refrigerant
- B) In lighting products
- C) In indicators
- D) To pass through water fog
- Answer: D) To pass through water fog
- How many known isotopes of neon exist?
- A) 7
- B) 10
- C) 14
- D) 20
- Answer: C) 14
- Which is the most abundant naturally occurring stable isotope of neon?
- A) Ne-20
- B) Ne-21
- C) Ne-22
- D) Ne-23
- Answer: A) Ne-20
- Which gas was observed to be missing between helium and argon, leading to the discovery of neon?
- A) Hydrogen
- B) Nitrogen
- C) Oxygen
- D) Krypton
- Answer: D) Krypton
- What is the narrowest liquid range of any element for neon?
- A) 1.2 ᵒC
- B) 2.6 ᵒC
- C) 5.0 ᵒC
- D) 10.0 ᵒC
- Answer: B) 2.6 ᵒC
- What is the primary color that neon glows in discharge tubes?
- A) Blue
- B) Green
- C) Reddish-orange
- D) Yellow
- Answer: C) Reddish-orange
- Which gas is neon used in conjunction with to produce different colors in neon signs?
- A) Helium
- B) Argon
- C) Krypton
- D) Xenon
- Answer: B) Argon
- What is the primary application of neon light in extremely cold regions, aircraft, and airports?
- A) Heating
- B) Illumination
- C) Communication
- D) Navigation
- Answer: B) Illumination
- What is the primary risk associated with neon in the absence of oxygen?
- A) Burns
- B) Respiratory problems
- C) Allergic reactions
- D) Radiation exposure
- Answer: B) Respiratory problems
- Which of the following elements does neon not react with under normal conditions?
- A) Hydrogen
- B) Oxygen
- C) Fluorine
- D) Nitrogen
- Answer: C) Fluorine
- What is the commercially used cryogenic refrigerant efficiency comparison for neon, helium, and liquid hydrogen?
- A) Neon = Helium = Liquid Hydrogen
- B) Neon > Helium > Liquid Hydrogen
- C) Neon < Helium < Liquid Hydrogen
- D) Neon > Helium = Liquid Hydrogen
- Answer: C) Neon < Helium < Liquid Hydrogen
- What is the primary risk associated with liquid neon on skin contact?
- A) Allergic reaction
- B) Frostbite
- C) Burns
- D) Rash
- Answer: B) Frostbite
- Which isotope of neon is the least abundant naturally occurring stable isotope?
- A) Ne-20
- B) Ne-21
- C) Ne-22
- D) Ne-23
- Answer: B) Ne-21
Summary of Neon Element Tutorial
Neon, a noble gas in group 18 of the periodic table, is denoted by the symbol “Ne” and possesses an atomic number of 10 and an atomic mass of 20. Discovered in 1898 by William Ramsay and Morris Travers, neon fills the gap between helium and argon. Rare on Earth, it constitutes 0.0018% of the atmosphere but is commercially obtained through fractional distillation of liquid air.
Characterized by its monoatomic, inert nature, neon exhibits a distinctive reddish-orange glow in discharge tubes. It boasts the narrowest liquid range (2.6 ᵒC) and remains gaseous at room temperature. While neon does not typically react with other elements, some studies suggest potential reactivity with fluorine.
In biological systems, neon lacks a known role and is generally considered non-toxic. However, exposure in the absence of oxygen can lead to respiratory issues and asphyxiation. Contact with liquid neon can cause severe frostbite.
The predominant use of neon lies in neon signs and advertising boards, where it emits a reddish-orange glow. Neon is also utilized in indicators, television tubes, lightning arrestors, and as a cryogenic refrigerant, being more effective than helium and liquid hydrogen. Additionally, neon’s unique property of passing through water fog makes it valuable in extremely cold regions, aircraft, and airports.
Neon comprises 14 isotopes, with Ne-20 being the most abundant stable isotope at 90.5%. The others, Ne-21 and Ne-22, contribute to the diverse isotopic composition of this fascinating element.