Mendeleev
Periodic table · chemistry · physics
Element story

Neon

Atomic number 10 means that every Neon nucleus contains 10 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Neon.

Start with the nucleus

Atomic number 10 means that every Neon nucleus contains 10 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Neon.

Neon (Ne) is chemical element 10. It belongs to the noble gases, and its reference state at room temperature is a gas. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

In practice, it turns up most often in lighting, lasers and cryogenics.

See the atom

Conceptual visual: electron shells are a learning aid, not a literal picture of quantum orbitals.

What this number means

Atomic number 10 means that every Neon nucleus contains 10 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Neon.

Keep exploring

→ Neon · Atomic structure · Periodic trends

10NeNeon
Neon · Ne · Z = 10

Neon (Ne) is chemical element 10. It belongs to the noble gases, and its reference state at room temperature is a gas. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

Understanding the element

Neon (Ne) is chemical element 10. It belongs to the noble gases, and its reference state at room temperature is a gas. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

Where do we encounter it?

In practice, it turns up most often in lighting, lasers and cryogenics.

What its position in the table tells us

Neon sits in period 2, group 18 and the P block. That location is useful because neighbouring elements often share trends in valence electrons, oxidation states and bonding behaviour.