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Noble Gas and Helium

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Although Helium exists in the atmosphere of Earth in small quantities, it is one of the most common element in the universe. It is a rare gas on earth. Helium was first discovered by Pierre Janssen in the spectrum of the sun during an eclipse in 1868. It was shortly identified as an element and was named by the chemist Sir Edward Frankland and the British astronomer Sir Joseph Norman Lockyer. Helium has an atomic number of 2 and an atomic weight of 4.002602. Helium is represented by the symbol of He. Helium is the second lightest element after Hydrogen and considered as the least reactive element. The more an element is reactive, the more flammable it is. It is considered a non-metal element with a number of 2 stable isotopes. It is a …show more content…

It’s deadly to breath in pure oxygen so divers mix it with helium in order to breath underwater!! Depending on how low the diver will dive, the helium/oxygen ratio needs to be accurate in order to dive safely. One of the greatest uses of helium is for cryogenics. When helium is liquefied it is one of the coldest substances known to man. Helium boils at the temperature of 4 Kelvin (452 degrees Fahrenheit). It is commonly used in magnets for MRIs and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. These magnets are made with superconducting wires that allow electric current to circulate forever as long as they are cold enough. Helium enforces that and makes the magnet running forever without any loss of resistance over time. Liquid helium is used any time someone needs extremely cold temperatures. Helium is also well know for the use of weather balloons. They use really big helium filled balloons that takes the balloon up almost into space with the use of helium. They take the balloon close to space to study atmospheric conditions with great detail. This is why scientists can predict what the weather will be like! Another really good use of helium is for welding. When arc welding, an electric arc has to be created to heat the materials up that are being worked on. It will rise to very high temperatures and it will melt. At these temperatures an inert gas is needed to protect the materials from

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