He: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 12:37, 31 December 2024

Overview[edit]

He is a chemical element with the symbol He and atomic number 2. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, inert, monatomic gas that heads the noble gas group in the periodic table. Its boiling and melting points are the lowest among all the elements.

Properties[edit]

Physical Properties[edit]

Helium is the second lightest and second most abundant element in the observable universe, being present in about 24% of the total elemental mass, which is more than 12 times the mass of all the heavier elements combined. Its abundance is similar to this in both the Sun and Jupiter.

Chemical Properties[edit]

Helium is chemically inert and does not form compounds under normal conditions. It is used in applications where a non-reactive atmosphere is needed, such as in arc welding and in growing silicon and germanium crystals.

Uses[edit]

Helium has several important applications due to its unique properties:

Cryogenics: Helium is used as a coolant for superconducting magnets in MRI scanners and other cryogenic applications.
Breathing Mixtures: Helium is used in breathing gas mixtures for deep-sea diving to prevent nitrogen narcosis.
Balloon Inflation: Due to its low density, helium is used to fill balloons and airships.
Leak Detection: Helium is used as a tracer gas for detecting leaks due to its small atomic size.

Biological Role[edit]

Helium is not known to have any biological role. It is non-toxic and is not absorbed by the body. However, inhaling helium can displace oxygen in the lungs and lead to asphyxiation if done in a confined space.

Safety[edit]

While helium is non-toxic and inert, it can pose a suffocation hazard if it displaces oxygen in a confined space. It is important to ensure adequate ventilation when using helium in large quantities.

Production[edit]

Helium is extracted from natural gas through a process of fractional distillation. The largest reserves of helium are found in the United States, particularly in the Hugoton and Panhandle fields.

History[edit]

Helium was first detected in the solar spectrum by Jules Janssen and Norman Lockyer in 1868. It was named after the Greek god of the sun, Helios. It was later isolated on Earth by William Ramsay in 1895.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-== He ==
+==Overview==
+'''He''' is a chemical element with the symbol [[He]] and atomic number 2. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, inert, monatomic gas that heads the [[noble gas]] group in the [[periodic table]]. Its boiling and melting points are the lowest among all the elements.
-'''He''' is a chemical element with the symbol '''He''' and atomic number 2. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, inert, monatomic gas that heads the [[noble gas]] group in the [[periodic table]]. Its boiling and melting points are the lowest among all the elements.
+==Properties==
+===Physical Properties===
+Helium is the second lightest and second most abundant element in the observable universe, being present in about 24% of the total elemental mass, which is more than 12 times the mass of all the heavier elements combined. Its abundance is similar to this in both the [[Sun]] and [[Jupiter]].
-=== History ===
+===Chemical Properties===
-Helium was first detected in the solar spectrum by [[Jules Janssen]] and [[Norman Lockyer]] in 1868. It was later isolated on Earth by [[William Ramsay]], [[Per Teodor Cleve]], and [[Nils Abraham Langlet]] in 1895.
+Helium is chemically inert and does not form compounds under normal conditions. It is used in applications where a non-reactive atmosphere is needed, such as in [[arc welding]] and in growing [[silicon]] and [[germanium]] crystals.
-=== Properties ===
+==Uses==
-Helium is the second lightest and second most abundant element in the observable universe, being present in about 24% of the total elemental mass, which is more than 12 times the mass of all the heavier elements combined. Its abundance is due to the very high nuclear binding energy (per nucleon) of helium-4, with respect to the next three elements after helium. This helium-4 binding energy also accounts for why it is a product of both [[nuclear fusion]] and [[radioactive decay]].
+Helium has several important applications due to its unique properties:
-=== Isotopes ===
+* '''Cryogenics''': Helium is used as a coolant for superconducting magnets in [[MRI]] scanners and other cryogenic applications.
-There are two stable isotopes of helium: [[helium-3]] and [[helium-4]]. Helium-4 is by far the most common, making up about 99.99986% of the helium on Earth. Helium-3 is much rarer and is sought after for use in [[cryogenics]] and [[nuclear fusion]] research.
+* '''Breathing Mixtures''': Helium is used in breathing gas mixtures for deep-sea diving to prevent [[nitrogen narcosis]].
+* '''Balloon Inflation''': Due to its low density, helium is used to fill balloons and airships.
+* '''Leak Detection''': Helium is used as a tracer gas for detecting leaks due to its small atomic size.
-=== Applications ===
+==Biological Role==
-Helium has many applications, including in [[cryogenics]], particularly in the cooling of [[superconducting magnets]], such as those used in [[magnetic resonance imaging]] (MRI) and [[nuclear magnetic resonance]] (NMR) spectrometers. It is also used as a protective gas in [[arc welding]], in the production of [[semiconductor]]s, and as a lifting gas in balloons and airships.
+Helium is not known to have any biological role. It is non-toxic and is not absorbed by the body. However, inhaling helium can displace oxygen in the lungs and lead to [[asphyxiation]] if done in a confined space.
-=== Occurrence ===
+==Safety==
-Helium is found in large amounts in natural gas fields, particularly in the United States, which is the world's largest supplier. It is extracted through a process of fractional distillation.
+While helium is non-toxic and inert, it can pose a suffocation hazard if it displaces oxygen in a confined space. It is important to ensure adequate ventilation when using helium in large quantities.
-=== Safety ===
+==Production==
-Helium is non-toxic and inert, making it safe to use in many applications. However, inhaling helium can be dangerous as it can displace oxygen needed for normal respiration.
+Helium is extracted from natural gas through a process of fractional distillation. The largest reserves of helium are found in the United States, particularly in the [[Hugoton]] and [[Panhandle]] fields.
-== See also ==
+==History==
+Helium was first detected in the solar spectrum by [[Jules Janssen]] and [[Norman Lockyer]] in 1868. It was named after the Greek god of the sun, [[Helios]]. It was later isolated on Earth by [[William Ramsay]] in 1895.
+==See Also==
 * [[Noble gas]]
 * [[Periodic table]]
 * [[Cryogenics]]
-* [[Nuclear fusion]]
-* [[Magnetic resonance imaging]]
-* [[Arc welding]]
-== References ==
-{{reflist}}
-== External links ==
+{{Element footer}}
-{{commons category|Helium}}
-{{Periodic table}}
-{{medicine-stub}}
 [[Category:Chemical elements]]
 [[Category:Noble gases]]
 [[Category:Industrial gases]]
-[[Category:Coolants]]
-[[Category:Inert gases]]