Neon

Neon (Ne) is a noble gas, a member of a family known for its low chemical reactivity. At room temperature it is colorless and odorless, and its atoms normally remain separate rather than joining into molecules. Yet pass an electric current through neon at low pressure, and it glows a brilliant reddish orange—the signature color of neon advertising signs. Signs in other colors often use different gases or special coatings. Neon also forms part of the gas mixture in helium–neon lasers. In nature, small amounts occur in Earth's atmosphere. Industry obtains neon in air-separation plants, where air is cooled until it liquefies and its components are separated using their different boiling points. The recovered neon is then purified.