Neon lights are used in many places and locations for different purposes. They are used for building facades, costumes, stages, Christmas lights, and many other elements. However, many of us are oblivious to some hidden facts about this vital element. Neon is an inert gas that can be used for various purposes. The following are 8 essential facts about neon.
1). The name neon means new facts about neon
Neon has a name that comes from a Greek word. In Greece, the word for new is neon. This name was essentially used to refer to the inert gas, which is a member of the noble gases in the periodic table.
2). Neon is obtained from air facts about neon
Neon is among the most abundant elements in the universe. It is produced by the stars and is among the products made during solar winds. You can also find neon in the moon’s atmosphere. However, Neon is challenging to get here on earth. Neon can be found in air packets and also in the mantle of the planet. Commercial neon used for lights and signs is obtained from the trace amount with getting from the air. We have about 0.0018 neon present in dry air. It takes a heavy setup to separate neon from the air.
3). Neon glows a brilliant red
Though neon is known to produce a bright array of colorful lights. Neon naturally has a reddish-orange glow. Most signs and lights that we call “neon lights” usually contain a mixture of mercury vapor, xenon, helium, or argon. These gases produce various colors when left on their own. Therefore, to have multiple warm colors, neon light manufacturers like mix different gases or insert coatings into the inner parts of the lighting tubes.
4). Neon was quickly adapted as a commercial lighting element
The moment that its discoverers knew about its features and the ability to produce attractive and colorful lights, neon lights quickly got adapted to become used in commercial advertising and promotions.
5). Neon was first used in California before it went to Las Vegas
Before it became what it is now in Las Vegas, Neon signs weren’t a thing in the city at first. It was a car company – Packard, in Los Angeles that had the first Neon billboard in the city. However, after that, it spread to various other cities. But Las Vegas just became one of the cities in the US with the most extensive collection of neon signs. It even has a Neon Museum.
6). Neon is not used for promotional signs alone
Neon can also be used in diving gears, electronic equipment, lasers, and many more applications. The Neon is known to be a refrigerant that has high effectiveness. As a refrigerant, it can be applied for cooling off of power equipment, superconductors, and motor, and many more things.
7). Neon is a noble gas
Neon is one of the seven noble gases and is known to be a chemically inert gas. So Neon is very unreactive and highly stable. This unreactive nature of neon is one of the primary reasons it is being applied as a lighting element for bulbs and promotional signs. Neon, as a noble gas with the most minor reactivity, is used in the production of numerous bulbs and signs.
8). Neon was first discovered in 1898
Two scientists first discovered the gas as they cooled air substantially and warmed it up until it began to glow.