Neon was discovered in 1898 by British chemists Sir William Ramsay and Morris W. Travers in London while they were studying the gases present in liquefied air.

Quick Scoop

Neon emerged from experiments where air was cooled until it liquefied and then slowly warmed so the different gases boiled off one by one. In one fraction, Ramsay and Travers noticed a distinct bright red glow when an electrical discharge passed through the gas, revealing a new element.

Who discovered neon?

  • Discovered by Sir William Ramsay and Morris W. Travers in 1898.
  • Their work also led to the identification of the noble gases krypton and xenon in the same experimental series.

How was neon discovered?

  • They liquefied air, then allowed it to evaporate in stages, collecting gases given off at different temperatures.
  • A previously unknown gas produced a bright crimson-red glow in a discharge tube, confirming it as a new noble gas, later named neon.

Why is it called “neon”?

  • The name comes from the Greek word “neos,” meaning “new.”
  • The name reflected how strikingly new and unusual this inert gas appeared compared with previously known elements in the late 19th century.

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