What Gas Is Pink?

When an electric current passes through it, helium gas typically displays a distinctive pink-orange color. This vibrant glow is a common sight in gas discharge tubes and other applications requiring energized gases.

How Gases Produce Light

The unique colors emitted by various gases, including helium, are a result of their atomic structure and the process of atomic emission. When electricity is applied to a gas in a sealed tube, the gas atoms absorb energy, causing their electrons to jump to higher energy levels. These excited electrons quickly fall back to their original, lower energy states, releasing the absorbed energy as photons of light. The specific wavelengths of light emitted, and thus the perceived color, are characteristic of each element.

Colors of Noble Gases in Discharge Tubes

Different noble gases, when excited in a discharge tube, produce a spectrum of unique and often striking colors due to their distinct electron configurations and energy transitions. These characteristic hues are widely used in signage, lighting, and scientific instruments.

Here's a look at the colors produced by various noble gases when energized:

This table illustrates how each gas has its own spectral fingerprint, making it possible to identify gases by their emitted light. For instance, while helium produces a pinkish hue, neon is famously known for its bright red glow, and argon emits a distinct violet light.