Neon glows because of a process called atomic emission. Here's a breakdown of the science behind it:
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Excitation: When an electrical current passes through neon gas, the neon atoms absorb energy. This energy bumps electrons within the atoms to higher energy levels, making them "excited."
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De-excitation: Excited electrons are unstable and quickly return to their original, lower energy levels. As they do so, they release the extra energy in the form of photons (light particles).
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Specific Wavelengths: The energy (and therefore the color) of the emitted photons is specific to the energy difference between the electron energy levels in neon atoms. This energy difference results in the emission of photons in the red-orange part of the spectrum, which is why neon glows with its characteristic bright red-orange light.
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Neon Signs and Other Gases: While "neon sign" is a common term, other gases can also be used in these types of signs. Different gases emit light at different wavelengths, producing different colors. For example, argon produces a blue light.
In short, neon glows because electricity excites its atoms, and when those atoms return to their normal state, they release light in the form of photons, giving off a characteristic red-orange glow.
