Question

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

Short answer

No, your friend is incorrect. Neon is a noble gas with a stable electron configuration and does not form compounds with other elements, including aluminum. Aluminum, being a reactive metal, tends to form compounds with non-metals that can accept electrons, but not with noble gases like neon.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the elements neon and aluminum.

Neon is a noble gas with the chemical symbol Ne and an atomic number of 10. Noble gases are known for their low reactivity due to their full valence electron shells. They rarely form compounds with other elements. Aluminum is a metal with the chemical symbol Al and an atomic number of 13. Its valence electron shell contains 3 electrons, which means it can lose 3 electrons to form a 3+ cation.

Examine the position of neon and aluminum on the periodic table.

Neon is found in Group 18 (VIII A) of the periodic table, which includes all noble gases. As mentioned earlier, noble gases are characterized by their low reactivity and stable electron configurations. Aluminum, on the other hand, is found in Group 13 (III A) of the periodic table. Elements in this group are known to be reactive and can easily form compounds with other elements, especially non-metals.

Consider the bonding tendencies of neon and aluminum.

Since neon is a noble gas with a full valence electron shell, it does not have a tendency to form chemical bonds with other elements. This is because neon already has a stable electron configuration and does not need to gain, lose, or share electrons with other elements to achieve stability. Aluminum is a metal that can lose its 3 valence electrons to form a 3+ cation. It has a tendency to form ionic bonds with non-metals that can accept electrons, such as oxygen or chlorine, to achieve a stable electron configuration.

Determine if a compound can be formed between neon and aluminum.

Based on the information above, we can conclude that neon, being a noble gas with a stable electron configuration, does not form compounds with other elements, including aluminum. Therefore, your friend's claim that the "neon" in neon signs is a compound of neon and aluminum is incorrect.

Key concepts

Chemical Bonding

Chemical bonding is the process by which atoms combine to form compounds. There are primarily two types of chemical bonds: ionic bonds and covalent bonds.

In ionic bonding:

• Metals, like aluminum, lose electrons to form positive ions.
• Non-metals gain these electrons to form negative ions.
• The electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions forms a bond.

Neon, as a noble gas, does not participate in ionic bonding because it has a full valence shell and does not lose or gain electrons.

In covalent bonding, atoms share electrons to achieve a full electron shell. This type of bonding occurs mainly between non-metals that each need additional electrons to gain stability. Noble gases typically do not form covalent bonds as their electron shells are already full and stable. Thus, neon cannot form typical chemical bonds with metals like aluminum or with any other element under normal conditions.

Periodic Table

The periodic table organizes elements based on their atomic number, electron configuration, and chemical properties. It is divided into groups and periods, providing valuable information about each element's properties.

Every group in the periodic table has elements with similar properties. Neon belongs to Group 18, known as the noble gases.

• Noble gases are characterized by their full valence electron shell, which makes them stable and unreactive.
• This group includes elements like helium, argon, and neon, all of which are gases under standard conditions.

Aluminum, on the other hand, is in Group 13.

• This group contains metals that usually have three electrons in their outer shell.
• These elements are more reactive than noble gases and can form compounds easily with non-metals.

The periodic table helps us understand why neon (a noble gas) and aluminum (a reactive metal) exhibit different chemical behaviors and why they don't typically form compounds.

Element Reactivity

Element reactivity refers to how easily an element can form compounds with other elements. This is largely determined by the element's electron configuration.

Noble gases, like neon, are well-known for their lack of reactivity. Their outer electron shells are full, meaning they have no tendency to gain or lose electrons and, therefore, do not readily interact with other elements. Thus:

• Neon and other noble gases do not form compounds under normal circumstances.

In contrast, aluminum is much more reactive. It has three valence electrons, which it can easily lose to form a stable, positively charged ion that can react with non-metals to form ionic compounds.

This varying reactivity explains why neon does not form compounds with aluminum, making the formation of a neon-aluminum compound impossible under typical conditions.