• Uses
• History
• Where Found
• Why Non-Reactive
• Physical Properties
• Chemical Properties
• Interesting Facts
• Glossary
• Bibliography

Uses:

Helium is used for making things rise or stay in the air. For instance, when you have a ballon and if you let it go it will float away. This is because it is filled with Helium. Helium also helps a blimp stay in the air. Not only to help things stay in the air but helium is used in lazers and leak detectors. The fusion of hdrogen with Helium provides the energy in the hydrogen bomb.

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History:

Helium was first discovered by Pierre janssen. He saw helium lines in outer space. People looked for it every where on earth and could not find it. A few years later, Sir William Ramsey descovered three gases coming from a reaction of a compound. He raconized two of the gases as Nitrogen and Argon. He sent a sample of the compound to Sir Norman Lockyer who found out that the unknown gas was Helium. The word Helium comes from the Greek word "Helios" which means "sun".

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Where Found:

Helium is the second abundant element. It is second only to hydrogen. Though also found on earth, most is found in outer space. It is the sun and the stars. On earth we mine for it. It is found in every natural gas and extracted so we can use it. Most of the mines are found in the U.S. and the biggest one is in Arizona.

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Why Non-Reactive:

Helium is what they call a "Noble Gas." This is because all the electrons are present in the valence level of the atom. This means they do not need to gain or lose any electrons. This makes so they don't react with other elements under normal conditions. Other "Noble Gases" are: Neon, Argon, Krypton, Xenon, and Radon.

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Physical Properties:

Helium is a colorless and odorless gas at room temperature. It can be a gas along with a liquid and a solid. When a liquid called liquid helium.

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Chemical Properties:

The boiling point of helium is close to absolute zero. When temperature is below zero it becomes a liquid and is the only liquid that cannot be solidified by lowering the temperature. Can only become solidified by increasing the pressure.

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Interesting facts

- Before 1915, helium cost #2500 per cubic foot

- Now costs 1.5c per cubic foot.

- Has the lowest boiling point.

- Helium is heavier but less dangerous than hydrogen

- Does not burn.

- If too much breathed, voice will become squeaky.

- It is not toxic

- There is no helium in your body.

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Glossary:

Abundant: Occurring in or marked by abundance; plentiful..

Compound: A material made up of two or more elements.

Fusion: The act or procedure of liquefying or melting by the application of heat.

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Bibliography:

Web Elements Periodic Table

Periodic Table of Elements

Exploring Chemical Elements and Their Compounds.

Images found at:

www.hirealonghorn.org/ fwsjobfair.html

www.vniief.ru/museum/ photo_03_e.html

members.aol.com/ dhbishart/page/

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