Is neon a “metal” or a “non metal” ?

Neon (Ne):

Neon is a chemical element with the atomic number 10 and the symbol Ne. It is a non-metal and belongs to the group of noble gases in the periodic table. Under normal conditions, neon is a colourless, odourless, inert monatomic gas with a density of about two-thirds that of air.

Applications of Neon:

1. Lighting and Advertising:
   • Neon is widely used in neon lights, which emit a reddish-orange glow.
   • It is also used in combination with other gases to produce various colours in lighting.
2. Electrical and Electronics Uses:
   • Neon is used in lightning arrestors, high-voltage indicators, television tubes, and metre tubes.
   • In the electronics industry, neon is used alone or mixed with other gases in gas-filled electron tubes.
3. Lasers:
   • Neon, along with helium, is used to produce gas lasers.
4. Breathing Mixtures for Divers:
   • Marine divers use a helium-neon mixture for breathing at high pressures, as helium is less soluble in blood than nitrogen, reducing the risk of nitrogen narcosis.