Neon (Ne)
Neon glows a vivid red-orange in a discharge tube; other 'neon' colors come from different gases.
Neon properties
- Atomic mass
- 20.18 u
- Category
- Noble gas
- Group
- 18
- Period
- 2
- Block
- p-block
- Melting point
- 24.56 K (-248.6 °C)
- Boiling point
- 27.07 K (-246.1 °C)
- Density
- 0.9 g/L
- Atomic radius
- 154 pm
- Ionization energy
- 21.565 eV
- Electron affinity
- —
- Radioactive
- No, has stable isotopes
- Discovered
- 1898
Neon electron configuration
- Electron configuration
- [He] 2s2 2p6
- Full electron configuration
- 1s2 2s2 2p6
- Electron shells
- 2 · 8
The electron configuration of Neon (Ne) is [He] 2s2 2p6. Its 10 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 8.
Protons, neutrons and electrons in Neon
A neutral Neon atom has 10 protons and 10 electrons. Most Neon atoms have about 10 neutrons: the atomic mass rounded to 20, minus the atomic number 10.
Neutrons are approximate: atoms of the same element can have different numbers of neutrons (isotopes). Atomic number and mass
How many valence electrons does Neon have?
8
Neon has 8 valence electrons in its outermost shell, shell 2. These are the electrons involved in chemical bonding.
Neon orbital diagram
Each box is an orbital that holds up to two electrons with opposite spins (↑↓). The inner shells are the same as the noble gas in brackets. How to write electron configurations
Molar mass of Neon
20.18 g/mol
One mole of Neon atoms (6.022 × 10²³ atoms) has a mass of 20.18 grams. Use this value to convert between grams and moles.
Neon facts
- Neon glows a vivid red-orange in a discharge tube; other 'neon' colors come from different gases.
- Neon (Ne) has atomic number 10 and is a gas at room temperature. It was discovered in 1898.
Position in the periodic table
Neon is element 10, in period 2 and group 18 of the periodic table, in the p-block.
Uses of Neon
Neon is best known for advertising signs, where an electric current through the low-pressure gas makes it glow. It is also used in helium-neon lasers, once common in supermarket barcode scanners, and in indicator lamps and high-voltage testers. Neon is the main buffer gas in the excimer lasers used to make computer chips, and liquid neon serves as a cryogenic coolant.
Who discovered Neon?
William Ramsay and Morris Travers discovered neon in 1898 at University College London, by slowly evaporating liquefied air and studying the gases that boiled off. Its name comes from the Greek neos, meaning 'new'.
Where does the name come from?
Neon comes from the Greek neos, meaning 'new'. William Ramsay and Morris Travers chose the name in 1898 for the new gas they found while separating the components of liquefied air.
Same group
Compare Neon
FAQ
What is the electron configuration of Neon?
The electron configuration of Neon (Ne) is [He] 2s2 2p6. Its 10 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 8.
How many protons, neutrons and electrons does Neon have?
A neutral Neon atom has 10 protons and 10 electrons. Most Neon atoms have about 10 neutrons: the atomic mass rounded to 20, minus the atomic number 10.
How many valence electrons does Neon have?
Neon has 8 valence electrons in its outermost shell, shell 2. These are the electrons involved in chemical bonding.
What is the molar mass of Neon?
The molar mass of Neon is 20.18 g/mol. This is the same number as its atomic mass, 20.18 u.
Is Neon a metal?
No. Neon is a noble gas, so it is a nonmetal.
Is Neon radioactive?
Ordinary Neon is not radioactive: it has at least one stable isotope. Like every element, it also has radioactive isotopes, most of them made in laboratories.
Where is Neon on the periodic table?
Neon is element 10, in period 2 and group 18 of the periodic table, in the p-block.