Helium
By Amy Kaluzhny
When was Helium discovered and how?
A French astronomer Pierre Janssen was first to obtain evidence that helium exists, in 1868. Pierre Janssen was observing a solar eclipse in India when he noticed the yellow spectral lines of the element. Norman Lockyer, an English astronomer observed the same spectra and proposed the name helium because of the Greek name for sun, Helios. Scientist's first thought that helium could only exist on the Sun because the spectral results could not be produced in the lab, but that did not stop researchers and Scientist's form looking for it. In 1895, William Ramsay discovered helium. Helium is the second lightest element, is odorless, colorless and is a nontoxic gas. Helium also has the lowest melting point of any element, and glows the color peach when an electric current runs through it. Helium is important because it enables the sun and the stars to shine. Without Helium, we would have no light and there would be no life on earth or anywhere else.
http://cac07science.wikispaces.com/file/view/HeliumAtom2.jpg/32609859/HeliumAtom2.jpg
http://cac07science.wikispaces.com/file/view/HeliumAtom2.jpg/32609859/HeliumAtom2.jpg
Facts about Sir William Ramsay, Jr.
(Discoverer of Helium)
- Born: October 2, 1852
- Birthplace: Glasgow, Scotland
- Died: July 23, 1916
- Cause of death: Cancer
- Occupation: Chemist
- Nationality: Scottish
- Father: William Ramsay
- Mother: Catharine Robertson Ramsay
- Wife: Margaret Buchanan
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/William_Ramsay.jpg/266px-William_Ramsay.jpg
Facts about Helium
- Has an atomic number of 2
- Atomic mass is 4.002602 (rounded to 4.00)
- Chemical symbol is He
- Natural form is a gas
- Color: Colorless (none)
- Classified as a non-metal
- Melting point is -458°F (-272.2°C)
- Boiling point is -452.1°F (-268.9°C)
- Half life is stable
- Has 2 neutrons
What is Helium used for?
- To inflate blimps
- To inflate balloons
- To make rocket fuel
- Helium can be added to oxygen tanks so that divers can breath under water, especially for people that go deep sea diving (or anyone working under pressure)
- Used as an inert* gas shield for arc welding
- Cooling medium for nuclear reactors
- To detect very small leaks
Fun Facts
- Does not combine with other elements
- The sun and stars are mostly made up of Helium and Hydrogen
- Helium is the second-least reactive gas (after neon)
- Inhaling helium temporarily changes the sound of a person's voice.
- Even though Helium is non-toxic, breathing it can result in asphyxiation* due to oxygen deprivation*.
Videos about Helium
Super-fluid helium reaction
A funny cartoon about Helium
A song about helium (will have to read what is said on the screen)
Definitions
asphyxiation* The condition of being deprived of oxygen (as by having breathing stopped)
inert* To be in a state of doing little or nothing.
deprivation* Dispossession; loss.
inert* To be in a state of doing little or nothing.
deprivation* Dispossession; loss.
Bibliography
Moore, John T. Chemistry Essentials for Dummies. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Pub., 2010. Print.
Plaza. "Why Is Helium Important." KnowsWhy.com. KnowsWhy.com, 20 Apr. 2011. Web. 20 Mar. 2013. <http://www.knowswhy.com/>.
Want to Know It. "Helium." Want to Know It. Want to Know It, 2013. Web. 18 Mar. 2013. <http://wanttoknowit.com/>.
Wikipedia. "Helium." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 20 Mar. 2011. Web. 16 Mar. 2013. <http://www.wikipedia.org/>.
Wikipedia. "Helium." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 20 Mar. 2013. Web. 19 Mar. 2013. <http://www.wikipedia.org/>.
Williams, Brian. "Chemistry." Children's Illustrated Encyclopedia. New York: Dorset, 1990. 160. Print.
The World Book Encyclopedia. Chicago, IL: World Book, 2009. 175. Print.
NNDB. "Sir William Ramsay, Jr." NNDB: Tracking the Entire World. Soylent Communications, 2012. Web. 23 Mar. 2013. <http://www.nndb.com/>.
Plaza. "Why Is Helium Important." KnowsWhy.com. KnowsWhy.com, 20 Apr. 2011. Web. 20 Mar. 2013. <http://www.knowswhy.com/>.
Want to Know It. "Helium." Want to Know It. Want to Know It, 2013. Web. 18 Mar. 2013. <http://wanttoknowit.com/>.
Wikipedia. "Helium." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 20 Mar. 2011. Web. 16 Mar. 2013. <http://www.wikipedia.org/>.
Wikipedia. "Helium." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 20 Mar. 2013. Web. 19 Mar. 2013. <http://www.wikipedia.org/>.
Williams, Brian. "Chemistry." Children's Illustrated Encyclopedia. New York: Dorset, 1990. 160. Print.
The World Book Encyclopedia. Chicago, IL: World Book, 2009. 175. Print.
NNDB. "Sir William Ramsay, Jr." NNDB: Tracking the Entire World. Soylent Communications, 2012. Web. 23 Mar. 2013. <http://www.nndb.com/>.