Background: Noble gases are also used to fill the glass tubes of lighted signs like the one in the Figure below . Although noble gases are chemically nonreactive, their electrons can be energized by sending an electric current through them. When this happens, the electrons jump to a higher energy level. When the electrons return to their original energy level, they give off energy as light. Different noble gases give off light of different colors. Neon gives off reddish-orange light, like the word “Open” in the sign below. Krypton gives off violet light and xenon gives off blue light.

Situation: A scientist named Kathy walks into her office to see two neon signs plugged into the wall and hanging above her desk. Confused, she looks around to see if there's any clue as to who put them there. Seeing nobody, she flips the light switch on and walks in. Upon flipping the light switch, only the large sign lights up. Even though they are clearly both plugged in, the small sign isn't turning on. Kathy leaves her office to find someone to ask who put these random signs up in her room.

Question: Which sign has electric current flowing through it?
Answer: large sign

Situation: A scientist named Kathy walks into her office to see two neon signs plugged into the wall and hanging above her desk. Confused, she looks around to see if there's any clue as to who put them there. Seeing nobody, she flips the light switch on and walks in. Upon flipping the light switch, only the large sign lights up. Even though they are clearly both plugged in, the small sign isn't turning on. Kathy leaves her office to find someone to ask who put these random signs up in her room.

Question: Which sign doesn't have electric current flowing through it?
Answer: small sign

Situation: A scientist named Kathy walks into her office to see two neon signs plugged into the wall and hanging above her desk. Confused, she looks around to see if there's any clue as to who put them there. Seeing nobody, she flips the light switch on and walks in. Upon flipping the light switch, only the large sign lights up. Even though they are clearly both plugged in, the small sign isn't turning on. Kathy leaves her office to find someone to ask who put these random signs up in her room.

Question: Are the electrons in the large sign more or less energized than the small sign's electrons?
Answer: more

Situation: A scientist named Kathy walks into her office to see two neon signs plugged into the wall and hanging above her desk. Confused, she looks around to see if there's any clue as to who put them there. Seeing nobody, she flips the light switch on and walks in. Upon flipping the light switch, only the large sign lights up. Even though they are clearly both plugged in, the small sign isn't turning on. Kathy leaves her office to find someone to ask who put these random signs up in her room.

Question: Are the electrons in the small sign more or less energized than the large sign's electrons?
Answer: less

Situation: A scientist named Kathy walks into her office to see two neon signs plugged into the wall and hanging above her desk. Confused, she looks around to see if there's any clue as to who put them there. Seeing nobody, she flips the light switch on and walks in. Upon flipping the light switch, only the large sign lights up. Even though they are clearly both plugged in, the small sign isn't turning on. Kathy leaves her office to find someone to ask who put these random signs up in her room.

Question: Which sign's electrons are at a higher energy level?
Answer: large sign

Situation: A scientist named Kathy walks into her office to see two neon signs plugged into the wall and hanging above her desk. Confused, she looks around to see if there's any clue as to who put them there. Seeing nobody, she flips the light switch on and walks in. Upon flipping the light switch, only the large sign lights up. Even though they are clearly both plugged in, the small sign isn't turning on. Kathy leaves her office to find someone to ask who put these random signs up in her room.

Question: Which sign's electrons are at a lower energy level?
Answer: small sign

Situation: A scientist named Kathy walks into her office to see two signs filled with noble gasses plugged into the wall and hanging above her desk. There is a large sign filled with neon and a small sign filled with krypton. Confused, she looks around to see if there's any clue as to who put them there. Seeing nobody, she flips the light switch on and walks in. Upon flipping the light switch, only the large sign lights up. Even though they are clearly both plugged in, the small sign isn't turning on. Kathy leaves her office to find someone to ask who put these random signs up in her room.

Question: If properly working, which sign would give off a red glow?
Answer: large sign

Situation: A scientist named Kathy walks into her office to see two signs filled with noble gasses plugged into the wall and hanging above her desk. There is a large sign filled with neon and a small sign filled with krypton. Confused, she looks around to see if there's any clue as to who put them there. Seeing nobody, she flips the light switch on and walks in. Upon flipping the light switch, only the large sign lights up. Even though they are clearly both plugged in, the small sign isn't turning on. Kathy leaves her office to find someone to ask who put these random signs up in her room.

Question: If properly working, which sign would give off a violet glow?
Answer: small sign

Situation: A scientist, John, has two containers of the same noble gas. John sends electricity through container A. Just as he is about to activate the electricity for container B, the power goes out, and he is unable to do so. Frustrated, John goes to find the circuit breaker to see if a fuse has blown.

Question: Which container has energized electrons?
Answer: container A

Situation: A scientist, John, has two containers of the same noble gas. John sends electricity through container A. Just as he is about to activate the electricity for container B, the power goes out, and he is unable to do so. Frustrated, John goes to find the circuit breaker to see if a fuse has blown.

Question: Which container doesn't have energized electrons?
Answer: container B

Situation: A scientist, John, has two containers of the same noble gas. John sends electricity through container A. Just as he is about to activate the electricity for container B, the power goes out, and he is unable to do so. Frustrated, John goes to find the circuit breaker to see if a fuse has blown.

Question: Will the gas in container A have a higher or lower energy level than container B?
Answer: higher

Situation: A scientist, John, has two containers of the same noble gas. John sends electricity through container A. Just as he is about to activate the electricity for container B, the power goes out, and he is unable to do so. Frustrated, John goes to find the circuit breaker to see if a fuse has blown.

Question: Will the gas in container B have a higher or lower energy level than container A?
Answer: lower

Situation: A scientist, John, has two containers of the same noble gas. John sends electricity through container A. Just as he is about to activate the electricity for container B, the power goes out, and he is unable to do so. Frustrated, John goes to find the circuit breaker to see if a fuse has blown.

Question: Which container will give off light?
Answer: container A

Situation: A scientist, John, has two containers of the same noble gas. John sends electricity through container A. Just as he is about to activate the electricity for container B, the power goes out, and he is unable to do so. Frustrated, John goes to find the circuit breaker to see if a fuse has blown.

Question: Which container will not give off light?
Answer: container B

Situation: There are two signs in a bar that use noble gases to light them. Sign A and Sign B are both the same solid color and patrons always point them out as they are rather amusing signs. However, one customer has just come up to the owner and told him that Sign B has just turned off.

Question: Which sign currently has electric current flowing through it?
Answer: Sign A

Situation: There are two signs in a bar that use noble gases to light them. Sign A and Sign B are both the same solid color and patrons always point them out as they are rather amusing signs. However, one customer has just come up to the owner and told him that Sign B has just turned off.

Question: Which sign currently doesn't have electric current flowing through it?
Answer: Sign B

Situation: There are two signs in a bar that use noble gases to light them. Sign A and Sign B are both the same solid color and patrons always point them out as they are rather amusing signs. However, one customer has just come up to the owner and told him that Sign B has just turned off.

Question: Does sign A or sign B have a higher energy level?
Answer: Sign A

Situation: There are two signs in a bar that use noble gases to light them. Sign A and Sign B are both the same solid color and patrons always point them out as they are rather amusing signs. However, one customer has just come up to the owner and told him that Sign B has just turned off.

Question: Does sign A or sign B have a lower energy level?
Answer: Sign B