Neon is a noble gas, meaning it barely reacts with other substances. It occurs in very small quantities in the air we breathe. The famous “neon signs” that lit up entire streets owe their name to this gas, although not all coloured light tubes are actually filled with neon.

Interestingly, pure neon produces only that characteristic orange-red colour. Other colours in so-called neon lighting are achieved by using different gases or by coating the glass tubes in a coloured finish. Argon combined with a small amount of mercury, for example, produces a bluish glow.

The inventors of the periodic table gave many noble gases names derived from Greek. “Neon” means something like “new”, referring to the fact that the gas was discovered relatively late compared to many other elements. It belongs to the same group as helium, argon, krypton and xenon, all of which are known for their stable, inert character.

A fun fact for your next pub quiz: although neon lighting is nowadays often replaced by energy-efficient LED lighting, the word “neon” continues to be used in everyday language to refer to any bright, tube-shaped illuminated sign.