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Science & Nature • Chemistry

Neon

Neon is a chemical element with symbol Ne and atomic number 10.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Neon is a chemical element with symbol Ne and atomic number 10. It is a colourless, odourless noble gas in Group 18 of the periodic table, known for its bright reddish-orange glow in electric signs and discharge tubes. Neon occurs only in trace amounts in Earth's atmosphere and is chemically very inert under normal conditions.

Properties

Neon is a colourless, odourless, tasteless gas that is lighter than air and chemically inert under normal conditions. It has a very low boiling point and is one of the lightest noble gases.

Occurrence and abundance

Neon is found in very small amounts in Earth's atmosphere and also in trace amounts in the crust and seawater. As shown on a world map, neon is distributed globally in these trace quantities. It is much more abundant in the universe than on Earth.

Discovery

Neon was discovered in 1898 by British chemists William Ramsay and Morris W. Travers. The name comes from the Greek word for “new.” The discovery occurred around the same time as Fritz Haber's work on ammonia synthesis.

Uses

Neon is best known for its use in illuminated signs and vacuum discharge tubes, where it produces a characteristic red-orange glow. Unlike propane, which is a fuel gas, neon is used primarily for lighting. It is also used in some cryogenic and laboratory applications.

Key facts

  • Neon is a noble gas and one of the least reactive chemical elements.
  • It has atomic number 10 and is a p-block element.
  • Neon emits a reddish-orange light when used in discharge tubes and signs.
  • It is present in only trace quantities in Earth's atmosphere.

Frequently asked questions

What is neon?
Neon is a chemical element, a noble gas in Group 18 with atomic number 10.
Why does neon glow in signs?
When electricity passes through neon gas in a tube, it emits a characteristic reddish-orange light.
Is neon reactive?
Neon is chemically inert under normal conditions and rarely forms stable compounds.
Who discovered neon?
Neon was discovered in 1898 by William Ramsay and Morris W. Travers.
Where is neon found?
Neon occurs in trace amounts in Earth's atmosphere and in very small quantities in seawater and crustal materials.

References

  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/science/neon-chemical-element
    Supports: Neon as a noble gas, its properties, and use in electric signs and fluorescent lamps.
  2. Royal Society of Chemistry — https://edu.rsc.org/elements/neon/2020018.article
    Supports: Atomic number, atomic mass, group, abundance in Earth’s atmosphere, and general properties.
  3. NIH PubChem — https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Neon
    Supports: Colourless, odourless, noncombustible, chemically inert gas and principal uses.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neon
    Supports: First p-block noble gas, true octet, and lack of strongly bound neutral neon molecules.
  5. American Chemical Society — https://www.acs.org/molecule-of-the-week/archive/n/neon.html
    Supports: Neon as an unbonded atom, its abundance in the universe, and atmospheric concentration.
  6. American Elements — https://www.americanelements.com/ne.html
    Supports: Discovery in 1898, symbol Ne, atomic number 10, and production from liquefied air.