Ne
Neon
Element 10 · Noble gas
Neon (Ne)
Neon is an inert noble gas that glows reddish-orange in an electric discharge. It is rare on Earth but the fifth most abundant element in the cosmos.
- Noble gas
- Period 2
- Group 18
- p-block
- gas at room temperature
Key properties
- Atomic mass
- 20.18
- u
- Electron configuration
- [He] 2s2 2p6
- Melting point
- -248.6 °C
- 24.56 K
- Boiling point
- -246.1 °C
- 27.07 K
- Density
- 0.8999 g/L
- Electronegativity
- —
- Atomic radius
- 154 pm
- van der Waals
- 1st ionisation energy
- 21.565 eV
Compare with every element:Electronegativity chartAtomic radius chartIonisation energy chartDensity chart of the elementsMelting point chartElectron configuration chart
Did you know?
Notable facts about neon
- 01
Neon has never been made to form a stable compound.
- 02
Only the red-orange signs actually contain neon; other colours use other gases or coated tubes.
- 03
Neon is extracted from liquid air, which contains about 18 parts per million.
Applications
What is neon used for?
- Advertising signs
- Helium–neon lasers
- Excimer lasers for chipmaking
- Cryogenic refrigerant
History
Discovery & name origin
Atomic structure
Atomic properties
Atomic structure
Atomic properties
- Atomic number
- 10
- Atomic mass
- 20.18 u
- Group
- 18
- Period
- 2
- Block
- p-block
- Electron configuration
- [He] 2s2 2p6
- Full configuration
- 1s2 2s2 2p6
- Electrons per shell
- 2, 8
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- —
- Electron affinity
- —
- Atomic radius (van der Waals)
- 154 pm
- Stable isotopes
- 3
Oxidation states
Highlighted: common oxidation states (0).
Successive ionisation energies
Energy to remove each electron in turn (kJ/mol). Big jumps show where a new, inner shell begins.
- 1st2,080.7
- 2nd3,952.3
- 3rd6,122
- 4th9,371
- 5th12,177
- 6th15,238
- 7th19,999
- 8th23,069.5
Physical
Physical properties & colour
Physical
Physical properties & colour
- State at 20 °C
- Gas
- Melting point
- 24.56 K · -248.6 °C · -415.5 °F
- Boiling point
- 27.07 K · -246.1 °C · -410.9 °F
- Density
- 0.8999 g/L
- Molar heat capacity
- —
- Appearance
- Colourless gas exhibiting an orange-red glow when placed in a high voltage electric field
- CPK model colour
- Copied
The CPK colour is the convention used for this element’s atoms in molecular models.
FAQ
Neon questions
What is Ne on the periodic table?
Ne is the symbol for neon, element 10 on the periodic table. It sits in group 18, period 2, in the noble gas category, and has an atomic mass of 20.18.
What is the atomic number of neon?
Neon has atomic number 10, so every neon atom has 10 protons in its nucleus. Its symbol is Ne and its atomic mass is 20.18.
Who discovered neon?
Neon was discovered by William Ramsay and Morris Travers in 1898 (England). The name comes from Greek neos, “new”.
What is neon used for?
Neon is used for: advertising signs; helium–neon lasers; excimer lasers for chipmaking; cryogenic refrigerant.
Is neon a metal?
No. Neon is classed as a noble gas.
What is the electron configuration of neon?
The electron configuration of neon is [He] 2s2 2p6. Its 10 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 8.