Wiktor Wise
Neon is a noble gas that emits a reddish-orange light when electricity is passed through it. This occurs because the electricity excites the neon atoms, causing them to release energy in the form of light. The specific colour produced depends on the energy levels of the excited atoms. However, the colour of neon lights can be altered by using different gases or a combination of gases, such as argon, helium, krypton, or xenon, which produce different colours. Additionally, coatings applied to the inside of the glass tubing can also affect the colour by altering the wavelength of the emitted light.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Color of neon gas | Reddish-orange |
| Color of argon gas | Blue, lavender |
| Color of helium gas | Yellow, pink, orange |
| Color of krypton gas | Green, pale blue |
| Color of carbon dioxide gas | White |
| Color of mercury gas | Blue |
| Color of xenon gas | Blue, gray |
| Color of hydrogen gas | Purple-red |
| Color of uranium glass | Yellow |
| Color of white neon lights | Cold white, warm creamy tones |
| Color of green neon lights | Vibrant, lively |
| Color of blue neon lights | Serene, tranquil |
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What You'll Learn
Pure neon gas emits a reddish-orange glow
The reddish-orange colour of pure neon is a result of the energy difference between the excited and original energy states of the neon atoms. This energy difference corresponds to a particular wavelength of light, which in the case of neon, is in the reddish-orange range of the visible spectrum.
The discovery of this characteristic colour of neon gas is credited to British scientists William Ramsay and Morris W. Travers in 1898. They obtained pure neon from the Earth's atmosphere and studied its properties using an electrical gas-discharge" tube similar to those used today for neon signs. Travers described the colour as "a blaze of crimson light... a sight to dwell upon and never forget."
While pure neon emits a reddish-orange light, the addition of different gases can alter the colour spectrum. For example, argon produces a lavender hue, and when mixed with a small amount of mercury, it creates a light blue colour. Helium produces shades of orange or pink, while krypton generates pale white or very pale blue. By combining various gases and adjusting their proportions, a wide range of colours can be achieved in neon lighting.
The colour of neon signs is not solely determined by the neon gas itself but by a combination of gases and other factors. The glass tubing can be bent into different shapes and sealed with one or more other gases, allowing for multiple colours in a single sign. Coatings applied to the inside of the tubing can also affect the colour by altering the wavelength of the emitted light.
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Different gases can be added to alter the colour spectrum
Neon lighting is created by filling glass tubes with a low-pressure gas and applying a high voltage to the electrodes, ionizing the gas and causing it to emit colored light. The color of the light depends on the gas used. Neon gas itself, when electrified, emits a reddish-orange glow. However, other gases can be added to alter the color spectrum.
Argon, for instance, produces a blue light when used alone and a light blue discharge when combined with a small amount of mercury. This combination is commonly used in street lights. Helium produces a pinkish-red or bright orange shade, while krypton generates a pale white or very pale blue color. Krypton is used in airport runway safety lighting. Xenon creates a cool blue tint, and uranium (yellow) glass can be used to achieve a green color. White and gold can also be created by adding argon and helium.
The addition of different gases and the adjustment of their proportions allow for a diverse palette of neon light colors. The specific color produced depends on the combination of gases present and the energy levels of the excited atoms. Temperature, pressure, and the amount of electrical current passing through the tube also influence the color emitted by neon signs.
The use of different gases to alter the color spectrum is not limited to neon lighting. For example, mercury vapor lamps, fluorescent lights, and sodium lamps also utilize different gases to produce light.
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The colour of light depends on the energy levels of excited atoms
The colour of light produced by a neon light depends on the energy levels of excited atoms. Neon lights contain a small amount of neon gas, which is a noble gas and a minor component of the Earth's atmosphere. When electricity is applied to a neon light, the atoms of the gas are knocked out of their orbit, and electrons are stripped away from the atoms, ionizing them. These free electrons collide with each other and are then sent back to the atoms, producing energy.
The energy produced excites the atoms, boosting them to a higher energy state. Electrons within an atom will naturally want to occupy the lowest energy state possible, so when an electron in an excited state returns to its original energy state, it releases the excess energy as a photon, or light. The colour of the light produced depends on the difference in energy levels between the excited state and the original energy state. The greater the difference in energy levels, the more energy is released as a photon, and the colour of the light will differ depending on the amount of energy released.
The colour of light produced by neon atoms is a reddish-orange, as seen by British scientists William Ramsay and Morris W. Travers in 1898. However, other gases can be used in neon lights to produce different colours. For example, helium produces yellow or pink light, argon produces blue or lavender light, krypton produces grey or green light, and mercury vapour produces light blue light. Different colours can also be produced by coating the glass tube with a phosphor or other chemical that will glow when energised.
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The colour of neon lights can be changed by controlling the energy supplied
Neon lighting is created by electrifying gas-filled glass tubes or bulbs. The colour of the light depends on the gas in the tube and the energy supplied to the light.
Neon is a noble gas that emits a reddish-orange light when electrified. Other gases can be used to produce different colours, such as purple-red from hydrogen, yellow or pink from helium, white from carbon dioxide, and blue from mercury. Mixing gases can also create different colours, such as blue from a mixture of neon and mercury, and green from a mixture of argon and uranium.
The colour of neon lights can be altered by controlling the energy supplied to the light. When an electric voltage is applied to the terminals, energy is supplied to remove an outer electron from the neon atoms. The higher the voltage, the more energy is supplied, and the more electrons are released from their atoms. These free electrons then collide with each other and are sent back to the atoms, producing energy that creates light. The colour of the light depends on how much energy the electrons have and how far they have moved from their original energy state.
In addition to controlling the energy supplied, the colour of neon lights can also be changed by coating the glass with phosphors or other chemicals that will glow when energised. This method allows for a wider range of colours and effects. Modern lights that use this method often rely on a mercury-argon discharge and a phosphor coating.
Another way to temporarily change the colour of a neon light is to add coloured gels or filters to the glass tube. This method can affect the brightness and clarity of the light.
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Fluorescent coatings are used to obtain bright colours
Neon lighting consists of brightly glowing, electrified glass tubes or bulbs that contain rarefied neon or other gases. The colour of the light depends on the gas in the tube. For example, neon gives off a reddish-orange light, while helium gives off pink light, and argon gives off blue light.
To obtain a wider range of colours, fluorescent coatings (phosphors) and glasses are used for neon tube lighting. These coatings are stimulated by light to give brighter and more brilliant colours than conventional pigments. The coatings absorb light in the ultraviolet region and emit light at longer wavelengths in the blue part of the spectrum, resulting in white light. This phenomenon is called fluorescence.
Fluorescent coatings were developed in the 1920s to expand the range of colours and effects for tubes with argon gas or argon-neon mixtures. These coatings are usually used with an argon/mercury-vapor mixture, which emits ultraviolet light that activates the fluorescent coatings. The mercury atoms in the tube emit ultraviolet light when an electric discharge is passed through the tube. This UV light is then absorbed by the fluorescent coating, which re-emits the light at a longer wavelength in the visible spectrum.
Fluorescent coatings are used in various applications, including lighting, textiles, paper manufacturing, printing inks, advertising, packaging, plastics, and safety gear. In lighting, fluorescent coatings allow for a wider range of colours to be achieved. In textiles and paper manufacturing, fluorescent materials give the appearance of extra whiteness. In other applications, such as safety gear, the bright colours provided by fluorescent coatings are important for visibility and safety.
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Frequently asked questions
In its purest form, neon gas emits a reddish-orange glow when excited by electricity.
A high potential of several thousand volts applied to the electrodes ionizes the gas in the tube, causing it to emit colored light.
The color of the light depends on the combination of gases present and the energy levels of the excited atoms. Temperature, pressure, and the composition of gases used also play a role in determining the shade and intensity of the light produced.
Different colors can be created by using other gases or a mixture of gases. For example, helium produces a pink or orange color, while argon produces a blue or lavender color.
