Common Uses of Neon
Its most common application is in advertisement. Ne generates a bright reddish orange color. Neon lights refer to various colors and lights. However, neon lights come from other gases and not necessarily neon.
The element is also used in helium neon lasers, television tubes and wave meter tubes. It is also used in lightning arresters. This is used to shield electrical equipment from lightning. There are also high voltage indicators and vacuum tubes that employ it.
Electrical Discharges
Ne discharges electricity at regular voltages and currents. Other inert gases do not. The orange red light appears when Ne gas is placed in a tube and current goes through it. Ne gas only produces orange red; other gases are used to produce other colors. The Ne gas discharge is applied in neon glow lamps, fluorescent lamps and other lighting systems.
Most of these lamps can function without using high voltages. Neon signs use high voltages though, up to 2 kv at least. Because of the way it is used, Ne is sometimes called fill gas. Neon light cannot be obscured by fog whereas other lights are affected.
Neon and Mercury
Adding traces of mercury into Ne turns the orange red color to vivid blue. Changing the composition of mercury and neon produces other lights, colors and shades. It is these colors that are used for landscaping and interior design.
Other Uses of Neon
Ne is valued as a lighting system because it is usable in cold places. That is also the reason why the element is used in aircraft beacons and aircraft. Ne can also be used as a cryogenic refrigerant. Research shows that Ne per unit volume of liquid has 40x more capacity than liquid helium. Neon in a liquid state has three times more capacity than liquid hydrogen. Basically, this means neon’s vaporization latent heat is 40 times more than helium and three times more than hydrogen.