neon (Ne) /nē′on/ [Gk, neos, new] , a colorless, odorless, inert gaseous element. Its atomic number is 10; its atomic mass is 20.18. Neon has no compounds and occurs in the atmosphere in the ratio of about 18 parts per million. Some minerals and meteorites contain traces of this element. It is prepared commercially by the fractional distillation of liquefied air and is one of the first components to boil off. Neon is an excellent conductor of electricity, which ionizes the gas and causes it to emit a reddish-orange glow. This characteristic makes neon useful in devices to warn against electric current overload.
