---
title: "Neon (Ne) — element 10"
description: "Neon is element 10, symbol Ne, atomic weight 20.18. Configuration, properties, uses and neighbours."
url: https://atoneplace.net/element/neon/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Neon (Ne)

**Neon — element 10: Ne**

20.18 u · Noble gas · period 2, group 18

Neon is the fifth most abundant element in the universe and one of the rarest in the Earth's atmosphere at 18 parts per million, because the young Earth had no way to hold on to a light gas that will not bond to anything. Liquid neon carries about forty times more refrigerating capacity per unit volume than liquid helium, which makes it the practical choice for cooling in the 30 K range. Only true neon glows the familiar red-orange; the other colours in a "neon" sign are argon, mercury vapour or phosphor coatings.

## Properties

- **Atomic number:** 10
- **Symbol:** Ne
- **Standard atomic weight:** 20.18 u
- **Category:** Noble gas
- **Group:** 18
- **Period:** 2
- **Block:** p-block
- **Electron configuration:** [He] 2s² 2p⁶
- **Electrons per shell:** 2, 8
- **Melting point:** 24.56 K — -248.6 °C — -415.5 °F
- **Boiling point:** 27.07 K — -246.1 °C — -410.9 °F
- **Density:** 0.0008999 g/cm³
- **Oxidation states:** 0
- **Discovered:** 1898 by William Ramsay and Morris Travers

## Electron configuration

- **Full:** 1s² 2s² 2p⁶
- **Noble gas shorthand:** [He] 2s² 2p⁶
- **Shells:** K: 2 · L: 8

## What it is used for

- Neon signs and indicator lamps
- The laser gas in excimer lithography steppers that make computer chips
- Cryogenic refrigerant between 25 K and 40 K
- High-voltage surge arresters and voltage-reference tubes

> Density is the gas at 0 °C and 101.325 kPa.

## Neighbours in the table

| Z | Element | Symbol | Mass |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 8 | Oxygen | O | 15.999 |
| 9 | Fluorine | F | 18.998 |
| 10 | Neon ← | Ne | 20.18 |
| 11 | Sodium | Na | 22.99 |
| 12 | Magnesium | Mg | 24.305 |

## Group 18

Elements in the same group share their outer electron count, which is why they behave similarly in reactions. Neon sits in group 18 with helium, argon, krypton, xenon, radon, oganesson.

## Common questions

### What is the atomic number of neon?

10. That is the number of protons in its nucleus, which is what defines the element.

### What is the symbol for neon?

Ne.

### What is the electron configuration of neon?

1s² 2s² 2p⁶, or [He] 2s² 2p⁶ in noble-gas shorthand.

### What is the melting point of neon?

24.56 K — -248.6 °C — -415.5 °F

## Related pages

- [Oxygen (O)](https://atoneplace.net/element/oxygen/)
- [Fluorine (F)](https://atoneplace.net/element/fluorine/)
- [Sodium (Na)](https://atoneplace.net/element/sodium/)
- [Magnesium (Mg)](https://atoneplace.net/element/magnesium/)
- [Helium (He)](https://atoneplace.net/element/helium/)
- [Argon (Ar)](https://atoneplace.net/element/argon/)
- [Krypton (Kr)](https://atoneplace.net/element/krypton/)
- [Xenon (Xe)](https://atoneplace.net/element/xenon/)
- [Radon (Rn)](https://atoneplace.net/element/radon/)
- [Oganesson (Og)](https://atoneplace.net/element/oganesson/)

## Sources

- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place (/about/)