1. Neon Signs By Jessica Deen

2. Neon element [He] 2s 2 2p 6

4. Neon is an inert gas, but only in chemical reaction, not in glass tubing. The voltage given by the electrode to the gas builds up kinetic energy to cause the neon atoms to become ionized (electrons are promoted to very high energy levels) When electrons return to their ground state, the excess energy is emitted as wavelengths (colors) of light in the form of photons As long as the photons are within our visible light spectrum, we see the lights.

5. Florescent bulbs

6. Interesting facts Filled with a noble gas and mercury. Both are tubes filled with a noble gas and have electrical charges run through them at very high voltages. Different volts refer to how much energy is used, most is shown through heat, not the light given.

7. Health Hazards Neon gas can cause asphyxiation in small spaces. Inhaling neon gas can cause dizziness, nausea, vomiting, loss of consciousness, and death. Contact with liquid neon will cause frostbite. Breaking of fluorescent light bulbs releases mercury gas. Fluorescent light is stressful to the eyes and body. Extreme exposer fluorescent radiation can cause dizziness, headaches, blurred vision, eyestrain, skin rash, sinus problems, fatigue, nausea, sleep disturbances, mood swings and irritability.

8. Examples Redish-orange Neon Yellow Helium Blue Argon Light blue Mercury

9. Questions What is the major difference between the Neon lights and the Fluorescent lights?

10. Answer The neon lights lack the phosphorous coating on the inside of the tube, showing light on the visible spectrum while fluorescent lights would show light on the nonvisible side of the light spectrum if it lacked the coating.

11. Question What causes the neon lights to emit photons?

12. Answer

13. Sources http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Inorganic_Chemistry/D escriptive_Chemistry/p- Block_Elements/Group_18%3A_The_Noble_Gases/Ch emistry_of_Neon http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Inorganic_Chemistry/D escriptive_Chemistry/p- Block_Elements/Group_18%3A_The_Noble_Gases/Ch emistry_of_Neon http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/ne.htm http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/chemweek/gasemit/gas emit.html http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/chemweek/gasemit/gas emit.html http://hyperphysics.phy- astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/lighting.html http://hyperphysics.phy- astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/lighting.html http://peachtron.hubpages.com/hub/How-Do-Neon- Signs-Work http://peachtron.hubpages.com/hub/How-Do-Neon- Signs-Work