Which neon element facts do you know that could spark conversions when you start talking about that nostalgic neon sign drooping on your wall? Armed with a few exciting facts, you can strike up meaningful conversations and showcase your love for neon lights. And by interesting facts, we mean knowing more than neon is a gas.
Neon element has a unique history and some surprising traits that form the basis of the fun facts about neon the element we’ll be taking a look at. It’s a naturally existing element and ranked number 10 on the periodic table.
16 Interesting Neon Element Facts
While most people think of neon signs when they hear about neon, there are more fascinating facts about this element that every neon light enthusiast should know.
1. Neon’s Discovery Was a Total Game-Changer
The discovery of neon gas was made in 1898 by British chemists, Sir William Ramsay and Morris Travers. While experimenting with liquified air, the two scientists stumbled upon a new gas that produced a brilliant red glow when electrified. Their discovery took the world by storm and gave birth to a whole new branch of lighting in the early 20th century. This further revolutionized signage, art, and advertising.
2. The Name Neon Comes from Greek “Neos”
The name neon was derived from the Greek word “Neos,” meaning “new.” The gas emitted a brilliant red light when energized. It was Ramsay’s son who suggested neon as the name for this new gas discovered.
3. It Has No Colour, Taste, or Odor
In its natural state, the neon element is invisible, colourless, tasteless, and odourless, just like air. It only emits a vibrant red-orange colour when contained in a glass tube and energised by high voltage current. Without this electrifying spark, neon gas is undetectable by sight, smell, or taste, making it as elusive as it is fascinating.
4. Neon Has a Very Low Boiling Point
Neon gas has an incredibly low boiling point of -246°C (-411°F). This makes one of the universe’s coldest elements in its liquid form. Its low boiling point makes it useful in scientific cooling and cryogenics applications.
5. Neon Isn’t Just Found in Neon Signs
An obvious neon element fact is that it’s a gas, but did you know that this gas makes up about 0.0018% of the Earth’s atmosphere? So, even if you’re not surrounded by neon lights, there’s a tiny bit of neon gas still floating around you right now. The rarity of neon in nature is the main reason why crafting neon lights isn’t as simple as you might have thought.
6. Neon is Both Rare and Abundant
This cool fact about the element neon sounds confusing but true; it all depends on where you’re looking. While it’s rare in the atmosphere, existing at 0.0018%, it’s the fifth most abundant in the universe. After helium, oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen, neon is among the main building blocks of stars.
7. Neon Lights Aren’t Actually Neon-Coloured!
Here’s another surprising titbit: not every neon sign contains neon gas. When energised, neon produces a red-orange glow, so any neon sign you come across with a bright reddish-orange glow is a true neon sign. To achieve other colour glows, neon sign makers use other types of noble gases. For instance, argon produces a light blue glow, while helium glows in pink.
So, if you find yourself amazed by a green or purple neon sign, it’s likely a mixture of argon and mercury or other gases.
8. Neon Light Can Penetrate Water Fog
One of the most interesting neon element facts is that the emitted light when neon is ionised can penetrate fog, mist, and even smoke. The bright red-orange light from neon has a wavelength that allows it to travel farther and remain visible, even when water droplets are scattered in the air, making it highly visible in poor weather conditions. This explains why neon lights are commonly used in colder regions and in airports.
9. It Takes a Lot of Neon to Make a Little Light
Even though it seems to glow effortlessly, neon signs need a high amount of neon gas to be able to. A single neon sign can have up to 20,000 volts to excite the gas in it. This high voltage causes the neon atoms to produce light as they return to their original low energy states. That’s why neon lights are much more expensive compared to other types of lighting.
10. Neon is Monatomic
Monatomic elements are those that are stable as single atoms. This means that each neon atom exists independently rather than forming bonds with other atoms to create molecules. Most other gases such as oxygen (O2) and nitrogen (N2) naturally exist as diatomic molecules. This also explains why neon atoms don’t need to bond with other atoms to form compounds.
For this reason, neon is much lighter than air, which is primarily made up of nitrogen. If you fill a balloon with neon gas, it will rise, but at a much slower pace than if it were helium.
11. Neon Has No Known Stable Compounds
Neon is part of the group of noble gases, together with krypton, helium, argon, and xenon. These noble gases are the most stable elements since their atom’s outer shell has the maximum number of electrons (two electrons for helium and eight for other gases). This also means neon’s inertness stops it from forming compounds with other elements in nature.
12. Neon Can Lead to Asphyxiation
Another interesting neon element fact is that, even though it’s non-poisonous, it can lead to asphyxiation. This is the state of being deprived of oxygen and can potentially cause unconsciousness and lead to death. Asphyxiation can happen in situations where there’s less oxygen available to breathe.
13. Neon Was First Used Commercially in 1910
Thanks to the French engineer Georges Claude, neon lights first entered the commercial scene in 1910. Claude demonstrated his neon light invention at the Paris Motor Show, and it instantly became a success. After this, neon lights became a staple of commercial advertising.
14. Neon Signs are Handmade, and it’s an Art Form
One of the interesting facts about neon element is that neon signs are handcrafted by skilled artisans who bend glass tubes by hand. Working at high precision, these skilled artisans heat the glass to make it malleable and create the desired curves and shapes.
This is what makes neon signs a true work of art and a reflection of the patience and skill of the artisans who craft them. This also explains why neon signs are mostly unique. So, when you go for an authentic neon sign, you’re getting a piece of craftsmanship.
15. Neon Lights Were Initially a Luxury Item
When neon lights were first commercialised in the early 20th century, they were very expensive due to the cost of obtaining and refining neon gas. In 1923, George Claude’s company Claude Neon sold two neon signs to the Los Angeles Packard car dealership for $24,000, approximately $370,000 when adjusted for inflation. Only high-end businesses and wealthy individuals could afford neon signs back then.
16. LED Neon Lights Are Taking Over
Since LED technology gained entry into the market, neon lights are no longer as ordinary as they used to be. LED neon signs are made from flexible PVC or silicone strips and mimic the nostalgic glow of traditional neon lights. They can achieve the same effect as their older counterparts but at a lower cost and better energy efficiency. Plus, LED neon signs can be bent into different intricate shapes and designs to suit any space or décor, such as these bar and café neon signs.
However, for true neon enthusiasts, the warm, nostalgic glow of traditional neon lights is irreplaceable. These neon element facts and history demonstrate to us that while trends may change, the love for neon distinct style still remains strong.
Bonus Fact: Neon Has Other Uses Beyond Neon Lights
Most people who know about neon understand that it’s primarily used in neon lights. However, beyond this, neon has other applications. It’s used in masers, lightning arresters, vacuum tubes, and helium-neon lasers. Due to its high refrigeration capacity, neon in liquid form is used to freeze corpses for potential future revival.
Wrapping it Up
Neon is more than just a trend; it’s a piece of art and science. From its cosmic origins to its role in iconic cityscapes, neon has become a symbol of innovation and creativity. If you recently discovered these dazzling icons and want to expand your knowledge about them, these 16 neon element facts will help you do just that.
With your choice of beautiful neon sign drooping on your walls, you can pair these facts with the beauty of the glow to strike engaging conversations. So, go ahead and use this free neon sign design tool to craft a design that matches your taste and place your order with Oasis Neon Signs to spice up your space.