Neon (Ne)
Element 10 · noble gas · group 18, period 2
Neon is element 10, a noble gas in group 18 and period 2. Its electron configuration is [He] 2s2 2p6. That leaves 8 valence electrons in the outer shell, with the shells filling 2, 8. Its outer shell is already full, so it does not normally form ions at all.
- 10 protons
- 8 valence e−
- p-block
Properties
| Atomic number | 10 |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Ne |
| Standard atomic weight | 20.18 u |
| Group | 18 |
| Period | 2 |
| Block | p-block |
| Category | noble gas |
| Electron configuration | 1s2 2s2 2p6 |
| Noble-gas notation | [He] 2s2 2p6 |
| Electrons per shell | 2, 8 |
| Valence electrons | 8 |
| Common ionic charge | none |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | no accepted value |
| Protons / electrons | 10 / 10 |
Electron configuration of neon
Orbitals fill from the lowest energy upward. Writing that out for neon gives 1s2 2s2 2p6, which is 1s2 2s2 2p6 in plain text.
Everything up to He is the same as in that noble gas, so it is usually abbreviated to [He] 2s2 2p6. The part outside the bracket is what does the chemistry.
| Subshell | Electrons | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| 1s | 2 | 2 |
| 2s | 2 | 2 |
| 2p | 6 | 6 |
Neon ion charge
Neon does not normally form ions. Its outer shell is already full, so there is nothing to gain by losing or gaining an electron.
Common questions
How many valence electrons does neon have?
Neon has 8 valence electrons. For a main-group element the count is the group number minus 10, and neon is in group 18.
What is the electron configuration of neon?
1s2 2s2 2p6, or [He] 2s2 2p6 written from the previous noble gas. Orbitals fill lowest energy first.
How many protons, electrons and neutrons does neon have?
A neutral neon atom has 10 protons and 10 electrons. Its standard atomic weight is 20.18, so the most common isotope has about 10 neutrons.
Nearby elements
See the ionic charge of every element →