How can neon have a melting point?

[skyshrimp]

I just read that sodium has a higher melting point than neon.

As neon is a noble gas, how can it have a melting point if it isn't a solid?

 

[SteamKing]

I just read that sodium has a higher melting point than neon.

As neon is a noble gas, how can it have a melting point if it isn't a solid?

It's not clear why you are confused.

Yes, neon is a noble gas, but it doesn't have to stay in the gaseous phase. Like all gases (even hydrogen), neon can be liquefied if its temperature is reduced sufficiently. Cool the liquid a little more, and you've got solid neon. The M.P. of solid neon is about 24 K, while the boiling point of liquid neon is about 27 K.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neon

 

[PRIDES]

In addition, being a noble gas simply means that the atom's valence shell is filled (in this case) with 8 electrons. The neon's K shell is filled with 2 electrons and the L shell is filled with 8, its "happy". However, sodium has a filled L and K shell but its M shell (can contain 18) only has 1.

This however has nothing to do with ability to melt, as the bonds between molecules are involved but the bonds between atoms are not.

 

[Borek]

This however has nothing to do with

the original question and is just confusing. Especially when you later to refer to

bonds between molecules

when there are no molecules involved - question asks about properties of neon, which is atomic.