Element #2

Helium

noble gas gas Discovered 1868

4.003 Atomic Mass (u)

-272.2 C Melting Point

-268.93 C Boiling Point

0.000164 g/cm3 Density

N/A Electronegativity

1s2 Electron Config

1 Period

18 Group

📖 About Helium

The second most abundant element in the universe and the only element discovered in space before Earth. It is produced on Earth by radioactive decay (alpha particles are helium nuclei). Helium is the only substance that cannot be solidified at normal pressure regardless of temperature.

🔧 Uses and Applications

MRI machine cooling (superconducting magnets)
Balloons and airships (non-flammable)
Deep sea diving gas mixtures
Leak detection in industry
Cooling nuclear reactors

💡 Did You Know?

Fact: Earth is slowly losing helium to space since it is so light. Most helium is extracted from natural gas wells in the USA, Qatar, and Algeria. Once released into the atmosphere, it is gone forever.