Here are five interesting facts about neon:
-
Real neon lights are only reddish-orange: While we often associate neon with a variety of bright colors, pure neon gas only produces a distinctive reddish-orange light. Other colors in "neon" signs are created by using different noble gases or by coating the glass tubes with phosphors.
-
Neon gas is rare: Neon is a relatively rare element in Earth's atmosphere, making up only about 0.0018% of its volume. This rarity contributes to its cost.
-
The first neon light was revealed in 1910: French engineer Georges Claude unveiled the first practical neon lamp at the Paris Motor Show in 1910, marking the beginning of the neon lighting industry.
-
Neon is used in television sets and lasers: Beyond its iconic use in signage, neon finds applications in high-voltage indicators, vacuum tubes, television tubes, and even lasers. Its inert nature and characteristic emission spectrum make it useful in these technologies.
-
Neon comes from a Greek word: The name "neon" originates from the Greek word "neos," meaning "new." This name was chosen by Sir William Ramsay, who discovered neon in 1898 along with Morris Travers.
