Helium: Definition and Its Meaning

Helium

In chemistry, helium is represented by the symbol He and has an atomic number of 2. There are no visible colours or odours to it, and it has no taste or smell. It is a non-toxic, inert, monatomic gas that is the first element in the noble gas periodic table of elements. It is also the first element in the noble gas group of the periodic table.The boiling and melting points of this element are the lowest of any of the elements. Atomic hydrogen is the second lightest and second most abundant element in the observable universe, after helium (hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant). It makes up approximately 24 percent of the total elemental mass, which is more than 12 times the combined mass of all the heavier elements. 

It is the element with the greatest abundance on the planet. Helium-4 has an enormous amount comparable to that of hydrogen both in the Sun and Jupiter, owing to the incredibly high nuclear binding energy (per nucleon) of this element compared to next three elements after hydrogen. This is due to a high high nuclear binding energy (per nucleon) of this element compared to the next three elements after hydrogen.

Helium-4 makes up the vast majority of the helium in the universe, and the vast majority of that helium was created during the Big Bang. The nuclear fusion of hydrogen in stars results in the production of large amounts of new helium.

It is believed that the term “helium” comes from the Greek word “Helios,” which means “Sun.” Scientists were aware that the Sun contained a large amount of helium before it was discovered by accident.

Helium is represented by the symbol He.

Discoveries in the field of science

It was discovered on August 18, 1868, in the spectrum of the Sun’s chromosphere, as a bright yellow line with a wavelength of 587.49 nanometers. This was the first observation of the element helium. The line was discovered by French astronomer Jules Janssen during a total solar eclipse in Guntur, India, and was confirmed by other scientists. Initially, it was assumed that this line contained sodium. An English astronomer, Norman Lockyer, made the discovery of a yellow line in the solar spectrum on October 20, the same year. He dubbed the line the D3 because it was close to the well-known D1 and D2 Fraunhofer lines of sodium at the time. He came to the conclusion that it was caused by an element in the Sun that was previously unknown on Earth. Together with English chemist Edward Frankland, Lockyer and others gave the element its name, which is derived from the Greek word for the Sun (helios).

Applications

Although balloons are the most well-known application of helium, they represent only a small portion of the total amount of helium used. A wide range of applications necessitate the use of helium, which has a number of unique properties, such as a low boiling point, a low density, a low solubility, a high thermal conductivity, and inertness. Helium is used in a variety of applications that necessitate the use of these properties. Approximately 32 million kg (180 million standard cubic metres) of helium was produced worldwide in 2014, with the majority of the helium being used in cryogenic applications (approximately 32 percent of the total in 2014). The majority of these cryogenic applications involve cooling the superconducting magnets in medical MRI scanners and NMR spectrometers. Aside from that, pressurising and purging systems, welding, the maintenance of controlled atmospheres, and leak detection were all common applications. Other uses, broken down by category, accounted for only a small proportion of total usage.

Valency of helium

Helium has an atomic number of two. Currently, the outermost shell of the creature has been completed. As a result, helium is an extremely stable element that does not readily react with other elements. It is referred to as inert gas or noble gas in some circles. In this case, the value of helium is zero.

Conclusion

Helium is represented by the symbol He and has an atomic number of 2. It was discovered on August 18, 1868, in the spectrum of the Sun’s chromosphere, as a bright yellow line with a wavelength of 587.49 nanometers.Although balloons are the most well-known application of helium, they represent only a small portion of the total amount of helium used. A wide range of applications necessitate the use of helium, which has a number of unique properties, such as a low boiling point, a low density, a low solubility, a high thermal conductivity, and inertness.Helium has an atomic number of two. Currently, the outermost shell of the creature has been completed.