Problem 32 - Chemistry: The Central Science

Question

A friend tells you that the "neon" in neon signs is a compound of neon and aluminum. Can your friend be correct? Explain.

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

Your friend's statement is incorrect. The "neon" in neon signs is not a compound of neon and aluminum because neon is a noble gas with a full valence electron shell, making it unreactive and unlikely to form compounds with other elements, such as aluminum.

Step 1: Understand Neon and Compounds

First, let's understand the nature of neon. Neon is a noble gas, which means it has a full electron shell and rarely forms chemical bonds. Noble gases are very stable and unreactive due to their full electron shell, making it difficult for them to form compounds with other elements. Now let's understand compounds. A compound is a substance that forms when two or more elements chemically combine, resulting in a new substance with different properties from the original elements. For a compound to form, there should be a chemical reaction between the elements.

Step 2: Analyze the possibility of neon forming a compound with aluminum

Since neon is a noble gas and has a full valence shell, it tends not to participate in chemical reactions to form compounds. Aluminum, on the other hand, is a reactive metal with a partially-filled electron valence shell that readily engages in chemical reactions. Considering the nature of neon and aluminum, it is unlikely that they would form a compound, as neon's unreactive nature would not allow it to form a chemical bond with aluminum.

Step 3: Conclusion

Based on our understanding of neon and its unreactive nature, we can conclude that your friend's statement is incorrect. The "neon" in neon signs is not a compound of neon and aluminum, as neon is a noble gas that rarely forms compounds with other elements due to its full valence electron shell.