First observed by Pierre Janssen during a solar eclipse in 1868, helium is the second lightest of the chemical elements. In the second of my Elements of the Periodic Table series, the essential facts, history and uses of helium are examined, including its use as a coolant in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN in Switzerland.
The article also discusses the methods of helium production and the origin of the element’s name. The properties of its two stable and four unstable isotopes are studied, including the superfluidity of helium-4.
Originally published at Scienceray.com, the article now has a permanent home on this site.
Elements of the Periodic Table: Helium (He)
Essential facts, history and uses of the second element of the periodic table.
