Neon Chemical Properties (23 Facts You Should Know)

Neon is a colorless monoatomic gas which is also known as a noble gas or inert gas. Let us discuss the chemical properties of neon elaborately.

Neon is a very familiar element in the universe and solar system but rare on earth. It is a highly volatile compound. During cosmic nucleogenesis, it is generated from the alpha-capture fusion process occurring in stars. It shows a glowing reddish-orange color in a vacuum.

Let us focus on the group and period of neon, with its isotopes, ionization energies, physical states, and many more relevant topics.

Neon Symbol

The chemical symbol of neon is Ne which is the first two alphabets of the word “neon”. This word comes from the Greek word “neos”, meaning new.

Neon Group in Periodic Table

Neon belongs to group 18 in the periodic table between helium (He) and argon (Ar).

Neon Period in Periodic Table

Neon is placed in the 2nd period of the periodic table beside the halogen element, fluorine (F).

Neon Block in Periodic Table

Neon is a p-block element because it has a full-filled p-orbital (2p6).

Neon Atomic Number

Therefore, it has an atomic number of 10 because it has 10 protons with 10 neutrons in its nucleus.

Neon Atomic Weight

Neon possesses an atomic weight of 20.1797 amu (atomic mass unit).

Neon Electronegativity according to Pauling

There is no electronegativity data of neon along with helium and argon in the Pauling scale. But it shows electronegativity of 4.50 and 4.84 in Sanderson’s electronegativity scale and Allred Rochow’s electronegativity scale respectively.

Neon Atomic Density

Neon has a very low atomic density of 0.899 g/litre.

Neon Melting Point

Neon has a melting point of -248.590 C or 24.56 K.

Neon Boiling Point

Like the melting point, the boiling point of neon is also very low, -246.0460 C or 24.56 K.

Neon Van der Waals Radius

Neon has a Van der Waals radius (half of the distance between two unbounded atoms) of 154 pm and an atomic radius of 38 pm.

Neon Ionic/Covalent Radius

Neon has a covalent radius (half of the distance between two atoms attached through covalent bonds) of 58 pm.

Neon Isotopes

Isotopes have the same number of protons but they differ in the number of neutrons. They also have the same position in the periodic table. Let us find out the isotopes of neon.

Neon has a total of three isotopic forms and all of them are stable.

Isotopes Abundance (in %) Decay mode
20Ne 90.48 stable
21Ne 0.27 stable
22Ne 9.25 stable
Different Isotopes of Neon

Neon Electronic Shell

Electronic shells, consisting of different orbitals (s, p, d, and f) are the different energy states for placing electrons. Let us see the electronic shells of neon.

Neon has a total of two electron shells to place its 10 electrons. There are 2 electrons in the first shell and eight electrons in the second electronic shell of neon.

Neon Energy of First Ionization

Neon has the first ionization energy of 2080.7 KJ/mol. Due to its complete shell electron configuration, all of the ionization energies of neon are very high.

Neon Energy of Second Ionization

Neon has the second ionization energy of 33952.3 KJ/mol.

Neon Energy of Third Ionization

Neon has a very high third ionization energy of 6122 KJ/mol.

Neon Oxidation States

There is only one oxidation state possible for neon which is 0. Due to its inertness, it cannot form any compounds. Therefore it cannot achieve other oxidation states.

Neon Electron Configurations

The 10 electrons of neon are arranged in its electron shells in such a way as 1s2 2s2 2p6. All the electron shells are filled up with electrons and therefore it is inert by nature.

Neon CAS number

Neon has the CAS registry number (numeric identifier containing 10 digits) 7440-01-9.

Neon ChemSpider ID

Neon has the ChemSpider ID (free chemical structural database) of 22377.

Neon Chemical Classification

Neon is chemically classified as a noble gas or inert gas, and it belongs to the p-block and therefore it is known as a p-block element.

Neon State at Room Temperature

Neon exists in a gaseous state at standard temperature and pressure (STP) because it has a very low melting and boiling point.

Is neon paramagnetic?

Paramagnetism appears due to presence of unpaired electron(s) and the paramagnetic compounds are attracted weakly by an external magnetic field. Let us see whether it is paramagnetic or not.

Neon is not a paramagnetic compound because all of its electrons are paired up (2p6). Therefore, it is regarded as a diamagnetic compound.

neon chemical properties
Paired Electrons of Neon

Conclusion

Neon is used in signs as it glows in a reddish-orange color. It is also applied in vacuum tubes, and television along with helium-neon lasers, and used as a cryogenic refrigerant to produce lower temperatures.