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| Atomic Number: | 10 | Atomic Symbol: | Ne | | Atomic Weight: | 20.179 | Electron Configuration: | 2-8 | | Shells: | 2,8 | Filling Orbital: | 2p6 | | Melting Point: | -248.6oC | Boiling Point: | -246.1oC | | Uses: | Primarily for lighting |
History(Gr. neos, new) Discovered by Sir William Ramsay and M.W.
Travers in 1898. Neon is a rare gaseous element present in the atmosphere to the
extent of 1 part in 65,000 of air. It is obtained by liquefaction of air and
separated from the other gases by fractional distillation.
IsotopesNatural neon is a mixture of three isotopes. Six other unstable
isotopes are known.
CompoundsNeon, a very inert element, is however said to form a compound
with fluorine. It is still questionable if true compounds of neon exist, but
evidence is mounting in favor of their existence. The ions, Ne+, (NeAr)+,
(NeH)+, and (HeNe+) are known from optical and mass spectrometric studies. Neon
also forms an unstable hydrate.
PropertiesIn a vacuum discharge tube, neon glows reddish orange.
It has over 40 times more refrigerating capacity per unit volume than liquid
helium and more than three times that of liquid hydrogen. It is compact, inert,
and is less expensive than helium when it meets refrigeration requirements.
Of all the rare gases, the discharge of neon is the most intense at ordinary
voltages and currents.
UsesAlthough neon advertising signs account for the bulk of its use,
neon also functions in high-voltage indicators, lightning arrestors, wave meter
tubes, and TV tubes. Neon and helium are used in making gas lasers. Liquid neon
is now commercially available and is finding important application as an
economical cryrogenic refrigerant.
CostsNeon costs about $2.00/l.
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