Page 196 - The Periodic Table Book
P. 196

10
             Ne    Neon


                                                                                                   Discovery: 1898
                                                                                   10    10    10  State: Gas
       Noble Gases  Forms                              This sample of
                                                       neon is trapped in
                                                       a glass sphere, and
                                                       gives off  a red-orange
              Pure neon in a glass sphere                                     Volcanic eruption
                                                       glow when electrified.
















                                                                                    Volcanic eruptions release
                                                                                    neon gas into the atmosphere.



                                                                                         Neon

                                                                                      lights may
                                                                                     refer to lighting
                                                                                     produced using
                                                                                      any noble gas.




             Uses                            Glass tubes filled

                                            with neon are used
                      A deep red beam is     as brightly lit signs.
                       emitted by this laser.                                                                 Neon sign












                         Helium-neon laser


           Neon is a rare element: it makes up just            of −189.34°C (−308.81°F), at which point the
           0.001 per cent of our atmosphere. Some              neon gas in the air turns to liquid. Neon can be
           of it was locked in Earth’s rocks when the          mixed with helium to create research lasers.
           planet formed, and this is released into the air    However, it is most commonly used in lighting,
           by volcanic eruptions. Pure neon, a transparent  such as in illuminated signs or as bright warning
    194    gas, is extracted by cooling air to a temperature    beacons in the path of aircraft at airports.





   194-195_Argon_Neon.indd   194                                                                                 05/01/17   2:50 pm
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