🔹 Basic Information

Element Name: Helium
Discovered By: Pierre Janssen & Norman Lockyer (in the Sun)
Year of Discovery: 1868
Category: Noble Gas
Group: 18 (Group 0 – Noble Gases)
State at Room Temperature: Gas (colorless and odorless) 💨

Helium is a very light, non-reactive gas. It’s the second most abundant element in the universe (after hydrogen) and was first discovered not on Earth, but in the Sun! ☀️

🔸 Chemical Properties

Chemical Symbol: He
Atomic Number: 2
Atomic Mass: ~4.0026 u
Valency: 0 (inert)
Electronic Configuration: 1s²

Helium has a full outer electron shell, which makes it extremely stable and unreactive — a typical trait of noble gases.

📘 Basic Things to Know

Helium is the second lightest element and does not support combustion, which means it won’t catch fire. Unlike hydrogen (which is flammable), helium is safe for balloons and blimps. 🎈

It’s found in natural gas reserves and extracted through a process called fractional distillation.

🤔 Interesting Facts

Helium is so light, Earth’s gravity can’t hold it, so it eventually escapes into space! 🌌
It’s the only element that can’t become a solid at normal pressure — even at absolute zero! ❄️
When cooled near absolute zero, helium becomes a superfluid — it flows without friction. 🧊
Helium is used in deep-sea diving to prevent “the bends.” 🤿
It was named after the Greek word “Helios”, meaning Sun, because it was first spotted in solar light.

🔧 Common Uses

Balloons & Blimps: Used because it’s lighter than air and non-flammable. 🎈
Cryogenics: Liquid helium cools superconducting magnets, such as those in MRI machines. 🧲🧬
Welding: Acts as a shielding gas to protect metal from reacting with air. 🔧
Deep-Sea Diving: Mixed with oxygen to make breathing gas for divers. 🌊
Scientific Research: Used in particle accelerators and space technology. 🚀

📚 Conclusion

Helium is more than just a party balloon gas — it’s a safe, stable, and essential element for science, medicine, and technology. From cooling machines to lifting balloons, helium proves that even the lightest elements can have a big impact. For students, helium is a fun way to learn about gases, space, and chemistry in real life. 🔬🌠

Helium (He)