Coming in at atomic number 10, neon is the first element on the periodic table to have a full outer set of eight electrons. It is a noble gas, highly unreactive and has no known compounds.
Neon gives its name, and the colour red, to neon lights. The other colours of neon lights come from hydrogen (also red), helium (yellow), carbon dioxide (white) and mercury (blue).
Research into neon led to the discovery of isotopes and also the mass spectrometer.
It can be used as a low temperature refrigerant and in diving gases, as it is less soluble in bodily fluid than helium.
Neon has the smallest temperature range (just 2.5°C) over which it exists as a liquid, says Professor Allan Blackman from AUT.
Photo: RNZ
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Professor Allan Blackman is at Auckland University of Technology.
