After teaching general chemistry this year, I need to answer Denis's
question. Neon does not burn-it is an extremely inert gas, perhaps only
reacting with fluorine. When put in an electrical discharge tube, as in
neon signs, it emits a bright reddish organge light. Of all the inert
gases, neon emits the brightest light. The reference to neon, as far as
a chemist is concerned, is to brightness of color, not the shade of color
produced.

Jim Neitzel
The Evergreen State College
neitzelj at elwha.evergreen.edu