Chemical Elements History and Information Neon

About the chemical element Neon, its symbol, atomic number and weight, who discovered it and when.

The Atomic Elements and Their Uses

(Element) (Symbol) (Atomic number) (Atomic weight)

Neon Ne 10 20.179

Discovered by Sir William Ramsay and Morris Travers of England in 1898. Most neon gas in the universe exists in exploding stars known as supernovas. Our most common use of neon is for signs, which contain pure neon or combinations of neon and mercury vapor, helium, argon, or krypton. The illuminated color depends upon the gas mixture and the color of the glass. In a colorless glass tube, pure neon appears red. In a yellow tube, it looks orange. Blue light comes from a neon-argon or neon-argon-helium mixture.