Helium
By: Helen Black
Helen
Facts About Helium....
- Helium was first detected in 1868 by French astronomer Pierre Janssen who was studying light from the sun .
- Helium is a colourless, odorous, tasteless chemical element.
- It's boiling and melting point are the lowest of all the elements.
- Except in extreme conditions it exists as a gas.
- After hydrogen, helium is the second lightest element.
- It is also the second most abundant element in the universe.
- Most helium is obtained by extracting it from natural gas.
- Helium makes up 0.0005% of the air we breathe.
- About 1/4 of the mass in the universe is made up of helium atoms.
- Helium is non-flammable.
- The word helium comes from the Greek word helios.
Helium Voice...
When you suck helium it makes your voice go funny and squeaky. It does this because helium is lighter than oxygen and other gasses that we breathe. When helium passes through your vocal chords it makes them vibrate faster. Thus it tightens your vocal chords and increases the pitch of your voice.
Video of Adam Savage from Myth Buster. Watch from 0:00 to 0:19
Atomic Number of Helium......
The atomic number of an element is the number of protons in an atom.
Helium's atomic number is two. Which tells us that are 2 protons in a helium atom.
Atomic Mass of Helium.....
The mass number of an atom is the number of protons plus the number of neutrons.
Helium's atomic number is 4.0026
Uses of Helium.....
- Helium is lighter than air, so airships and balloons are filled with gas to lift them up!:
If you heat up a gas it expands so the extra gas inside the balloon is pushed out of the balloon.
There are fewer atoms inside the balloon, so the air inside the balloon is lighter than the air outside of it.
- Used in helium-neon lasers, These lasers can be used to read barcodes.
A helium-neon laser is a type of gas laser which consists of a mixture of helium and neon in a small capillary tube.
It is usually started by a DC electrical discharge.
- Helium is used to condense hydrogen and oxygen to make rocket fuel!
You can use helium to condense hydrogen and oxygen which can make rocket fuel.
- Helium can be added to oxygen tanks so that divers can breathe more easily.
Heliox is a mixture of helium and oxygen that is a breathing gas. Heliox generates less airway resistance than air, so it can be added
to oxygen tanks so divers and people with medical conditions can breathe more easily.
Jokes and Fun Stuff....
I just told you the funniest helium joke and you went He He He He He
- Guest Dr. Alimen
Helium walked into a bar. The bartender say " Sorry we don't serve noble gasses here."
Helium didn't react.
What did the physicists say when they where fighting?
"Let me atom!
Bibliography:
Mullins, Matt. '' The Elements" China: Scholastic, 2012
http://wanttoknowit.com/uses-of-helium/ Want to Know It, 2012
Brain, Marshell, http://science.howstuffworks.com/helium3.htm How Stuff Works, 1998-2012
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helium%E2%80%93neon_laser Wikipedia, October 15, 2012
http://chemistry.wikia.com/wiki/Helium Chemistry Wiki
Helmenstine, Ann Marie, http://chemistry.about.com/od/elementfacts/a/10-helium-facts.htm, 2012
http://best-diving.org/images/Diving_Medicine/scientific%20diver.jpg
http://0.tqn.com/d/chemistry/1/0/q/c/1/Helium_Tile.png
http://images.v2.reserve123.com/product/5359-3.jpg
http://chemistry.about.com/u/ua/chemistryjokes/Element-Jokes.htm About Chemistry
http://chemistry.about.com/u/ua/chemistryjokes/Element-Jokes.htm
http://atthecrossroads.org/campaign/data/photos/updates/uploaded_photo_314449500.jpg
http://www.mrsmoushon.com/8th/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Helium.jpg
