Neon compounds

Neon compounds are chemical compounds containing the element neon (Ne) with other molecules or elements from the periodic table. Compounds of the noble gas neon were believed not to exist, but there are now known to be molecular ions containing neon, as well as temporary excited neon-containing molecules called excimers. Several neutral neon molecules have also been predicted to be stable, but are yet to be discovered in nature. Neon has been shown to crystallize with other substances and form clathrates or Van der Waals solids.

Neon has a high first ionization potential of 21.564 eV, which is only exceeded by that of helium (24.587 eV), requiring too much energy to make stable ionic compounds. Neon's polarisability of 0.395 Å3 is the second lowest of any element (only helium's is more extreme). Low polarisability means there will be little tendency to link to other atoms.[1] Neon has a Lewis basicity or proton affinity of 2.06 eV.[2] Neon is theoretically less reactive than helium, making it the least reactive of all the elements.[3]

  1. ^ Frenking, Gernot; Cremer, Dieter (1 March 2005). "The chemistry of the noble gas elements helium, neon, and argon — Experimental facts and theoretical predictions". Structure and Bonding. 73 (Noble Gas and High Temperature Chemistry): 17–95. doi:10.1007/3-540-52124-0_2.
  2. ^ Grochala, Wojciech (1 November 2017). "On the position of helium and neon in the Periodic Table of Elements". Foundations of Chemistry. 20 (3): 191–207. doi:10.1007/s10698-017-9302-7.
  3. ^ Lewars, Errol G. (2008). Modelling Marvels. Springer. pp. 70–71. Bibcode:2008moma.book.....L. ISBN 978-1-4020-6972-7.