Quick answerNeon (Ne) is a noble gas with atomic number 10 and an atomic mass of 20.18 (2023), in group 18, period 2. It was discovered by William Ramsay and Morris Travers in 1898. It is used for neon signs and lasers. Its electron configuration is [He] 2s2 2p6.
Neon is the gas behind the glowing signs of city nights, and its bright red-orange light also guides lasers and airport beacons.
Key facts
| Symbol | Ne |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 10 |
| Atomic mass | 20.18 (IUPAC standard atomic weight, 2023) |
| Category | noble gas |
| Group | 18 |
| Period | 2 |
| Block | p-block |
| Electron configuration | [He] 2s2 2p6 |
| Discovered | William Ramsay and Morris Travers, 1898 |
| Uses | neon signs, lasers, airport beacons, television tubes, cryogenic refrigeration |
Quick quiz
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Keep exploring
- Periodic table — all 118 elements
- Helium (He) — another noble gas, atomic number 2
- Argon (Ar) — another noble gas, atomic number 18
- Krypton (Kr) — another noble gas, atomic number 36
- Xenon (Xe) — another noble gas, atomic number 54
- Radon (Rn) — another noble gas, atomic number 86
- Oganesson (Og) — another noble gas, atomic number 118
Sources & last updated
- CIAAW — Standard Atomic Weights
- PubChem Periodic Table
- Wikipedia — Timeline of chemical element discoveries
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.