{"id":389,"date":"2020-04-09T11:34:34","date_gmt":"2020-04-09T11:34:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thechemicalelements.com\/?page_id=389"},"modified":"2023-08-15T09:13:04","modified_gmt":"2023-08-15T09:13:04","slug":"helium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thechemicalelements.com\/helium\/","title":{"rendered":"Helium (He)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Helium is a chemical element with the atomic number 2 in the periodic table. With 1.38 parts per million of abundance, it\u2019s the second most plentiful chemical element in Earth\u2019s atmosphere after hydrogen<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Element 2 is classified as a member of the noble gases family of elements, i.e in Group 18 (VIIIA) of the periodic table. This non-toxic chemical has an extremely stable, closed-shell electronic configuration that does not allow the formation of compounds with any other substance under normal conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite being labeled as a relatively harmless chemical, helium gas is safe only when used properly. Indeed, floating balloons filled with helium are the most loved party decor of any celebration and fun event. But as a simple asphyxiant, helium may lead to adverse health effects upon inhalation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Chemical and Physical Properties of Helium<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Property<\/strong><\/td>Value<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Symbol of Helium<\/td>He<\/td><\/tr>
Name<\/td>Helium<\/td><\/tr>
Atomic Number of Helium<\/td>2<\/td><\/tr>
Group of Helium<\/td>Noble Gas<\/td><\/tr>
Crystal Structure of Helium<\/td>Hexagonal<\/td><\/tr>
Atomic Weight of Helium<\/td>4.002602<\/td><\/tr>
Shells of Helium<\/td>2<\/td><\/tr>
Orbitals of Helium<\/td>1s2<\/td><\/tr>
Valence of Helium<\/td>0<\/td><\/tr>
Melting Point of Helium<\/td>0.95<\/td><\/tr>
Boiling Point of Helium<\/td>4.215<\/td><\/tr>
Electro Negativity of Helium<\/td>0<\/td><\/tr>
Covalent Radius of Helium<\/td>0.93 \u00c5<\/td><\/tr>
Atomic Radius of Helium<\/td>0.49 \u00c5<\/td><\/tr>
Atomic Volume of Helium<\/td>19.5 cm\u00b3\/mol<\/td><\/tr>
Name Origin of Helium<\/td>Greek: h\u00ealios (sun).<\/td><\/tr>
Discovered of Helium By<\/td>Sir William Ramsey, Nils Langet, P.T.Cleve<\/td><\/tr>
Year<\/td>1895<\/td><\/tr>
Location<\/td>Scotland\/Sweden<\/td><\/tr>
Pronounced of Helium<\/td>HEE-li-em<\/td><\/tr>
Oxydation States of Helium<\/td>0<\/td><\/tr>
Density of Helium<\/td>0.0001787 g\/cm\u00b3<\/td><\/tr>
Uses of Helium<\/td>Used in balloons, deep sea diving & welding. Also used in very low temperature research.<\/td><\/tr>
Description of Helium<\/td>Soft silvery-white metal. Lightest of metals. Accounts for only 0.0007% of the earth crust<\/td><\/tr>
Period<\/td>1 (s-block)<\/td><\/tr>
Color<\/td>Colorless<\/td><\/tr>
Physical state<\/td>Gas<\/td><\/tr>
Half-life<\/td>From less than 10-9 seconds to 806.7 milliseconds<\/td><\/tr>
Electronegativity according to Pauling<\/td>Unknown<\/td><\/tr>
Isotopes<\/td>9<\/td><\/tr>
Most characteristic isotope<\/td>4He<\/td><\/tr>
The energy of the first ionization<\/td>2372 kJ.mol-1<\/td><\/tr>
The energy of the second ionization<\/td>N\/A<\/td><\/tr>
Discovery date<\/td>In 1868 by Pierre Jules C\u00e9sar Janssen, in 1895 by Sir William Ramsay, and independently by Per Teodor Cleve and Nils Abraham Langlet<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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With the periodic table symbol He, atomic number 2, atomic mass of 4.00260 g.mol-1, and electron configuration 1s2, helium is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and non-combustible noble gas. It reaches its boiling point at \u2212268.928\u00b0C, \u2212452.07\u00b0F, 4.222 K, while the melting point is achieved at \u2212272.20\u00b0C, \u2212457.96\u00b0F, 0.95 K.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This member of the noble gases family of elements<\/a> has an unknown electronegativity according to Pauling, whereas the atomic radius according to van der Waals is 0.118 nm.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Element 2 mainly exists in gaseous and liquid forms. When the helium gas is exposed to low temperatures, it condenses to liquid helium. In contact with very cold H2O, liquid helium can trigger violent boiling of the water.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How Was Helium Discovered?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first scientific evidence on the existence of element 2 was provided by the French astronomer Jules Janssen (1824 \u2013 1907) on August 18th, 1868. His full name is Pierre Jules C\u00e9sar Janssen and he\u2019s credited with the discovery of the gaseous nature of the solar chromosphere.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Discovery of Jules Janssen<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 1868, this French astronomer was intrigued by the <\/span>solar eclipse<\/span><\/a> that occurred on November 15th that year. It was one of the rare annual hybrid solar eclipses that sparked Janssen\u2019s curiosity even more and motivated him to study the prominences in the Sun\u2019s corona. By spectroscopically analyzing the sunlight coming directly from the eclipsed Sun, Janssen observed a yellow line in the solar spectrum that he could not relate to any other already discovered chemical element.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This particular wavelength in the Sun\u2019s light was a clear sign to Janssen that a new chemical element stemming from the Sun can be found on Earth as well. By making this discovery, this French astronomer paved the way for scientists to further understand the nature of stars in our Universe.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the existence of helium was not welcomed by all scientists since most of them believed that the Sun is too far from them to be ever able to derive any scientific evidence on its structure and nature.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Contribution of Sir William Ramsay<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Despite all odds and lack of technological means at those times, the Scottish chemist Sir William Ramsay succeeded to isolate element 2. By working meticulously on noble gases in his London laboratory, Sir Ramsay also managed to scientifically prove the existence of helium on Earth by treating a sample of <\/span>cleveite<\/span><\/i> (radioactive uranium<\/a> residue) with sulfuric acid in 1895.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SIr Ramsey sent his findings on helium to his colleagues Norman Lockyer and Sir William Crookes, who were able to confirm the evidence and identify helium as a new chemical element.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Contribution of Nils Langlet and Per Theodor Cleve<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, two Swedish scientists, Nils Langlet and Per Theodor Cleve at Uppsala, Sweden, also succeeded in isolating the first sample of element 2 in a lab and becoming the first scientists to measure the atomic weight of helium.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How Did Helium Get Its Name?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The name of this chemical element originates from the Greek word ‘<\/span>helios<\/span><\/i>‘, which is a term that personifies the Sun. This notion refers to the fact that helium was first detected in the <\/span>Sun’s corona<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Element 2 was named \u2018<\/span>helium<\/span><\/i>\u2019 by the English chemists Joseph Norman Lockyer and Edward Frankland in 1868 after they confirmed the scientific evidence on the new element provided by Sir William Ramsey.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Where Can You Find Helium?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Helium comprises around 23% of the entire elemental mass of the Universe as one of the major constituents of the giant gaseous planets, such as Jupiter. It also comprises about 45% of the mass of the Sun.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Formed in the Big Bang nucleosynthesis, helium in the Universe is generated by the nuclear fusion of nitrogen contained in stars. The heat and pressure formed in the process at the core of said stars triggered a fusion of hydrogen<\/a> atoms, which further led to the formation of large amounts of helium.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, most of the helium quantities found on Earth originate from the natural radioactive decay of the elements uranium and thorium<\/a>. Even though this gaseous element cannot be contained in Earth\u2019s crust since it constantly escapes into the atmosphere, traces of element 2 can be found in uranium and thorium-bearing minerals. With an occurrence of 8 parts per billion, helium is the 71st most abundant element in Earth’s crust.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All commercially utilized quantities of helium are obtained from natural gases in which helium is often found trapped. In the United States, a series of <\/span>natural gas fields<\/span><\/a> are the main source of helium in the world. Texas, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Ohio, Colorado, West Virginia, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arkansas, North Dakota, Alaska, Utah, Kansas, and California are counted toward the largest natural gas producers in the world, including helium.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Helium in Everyday Life<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The second most abundant chemical element in the Universe possess some chemical properties that make helium indispensable and find practical application in the following instances:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n