Neon "it's a gas"

Neon [Ne], is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas. It is one of the inert gasses which include argon, helium, krypton, xenon, and radon. A small amount of neon in a partially evacuated glass tube emits a bright reddish-orange glow while conducting electricity.

Neon was discovered in 1898 by British chemists Sir William Ramsay and M.W. Travers. The neon lamp was developed by French physicist Georges Claude in 1911. He is credited with the world's first neon sign, installed by Claude Neon at a French barbershop. By the 1920's neon was being used in the United States and was the staple for outdoor advertising in the 1930's to 1950's.

In the earlier years of developement, Argon [Ar] also was incorporated by the neon industry. Argon emits a pale blue glow in an evacuated glass tube while conducting electricity. A small amount of mercury [Hg] is inserted in the tube with argon to increase brilliancy.

Because argon is not as brilliant as neon, and is pale blue to neon's bright red, many colors can be formed with the use of different flourescent coatings on the inside wall of the neon tube [Note: Neon is the catch-all word used in the industry for the lighted tubes, even though not all tubes have neon in them]. Neon will change the color of the flourescent coating in a tube, Argon, which is not as brilliant, will not. Therefore, a clear glass tube with blue flourescent coating will light up blue if argon is inserted and hot pink if neon is inserted. With two different colors of gasses, and many different colors of flourescent coatings, a whole rainbow of colors is made possible. Also available is colored glass, where the pigment is in the glass itself, opening a whole new range of look and colors.

The electrical charge required to excite either gas is much greater than the normal power supply in businesses or homes of 110 volts. A power supply called a Transformer, which provides an electrical current from 5,000 volts to 15,000 volts at 30-60 milliamps, is attached to both ends of the neon tube via an electrode made of glass and metal.

After its heydays, neon began to decline in popularity in the late 1950's when flourescent lamps inside metal cans with plastic faces became more popular. Neon started its comeback in the 1980's with the popularity of the channel letter, a metal letter with a plastic face with neon inside. These are most commonly seen on storefronts inside malls, or on the exterior front of businesses.

In the last 10 to 15 years, neon has made a great resurgence in many other areas as well, including neon wall graphics inside stores, accent lighting for homes and businesses, neon art, personalized nameplates, refurbished antique neon signs, car neon, and neon for wet bars and rec rooms for homes.