Helium

Helium (He)

Helium is the 2nd element in the periodic table and has a symbol of He and atomic number of 2. It has an atomic weight of 4.00260 and a mass number of 4. Helium has two protons and two neutrons in its nucleus, and two electrons in one shell. It is located in group eighteen, period one and block s of the periodic table. Colourless, odourless gaseous nonmetallic element. Belongs to group 18 of the periodic table. Lowest boiling point of all elements and can only be solidified under pressure. Chemically inert, no known compounds. Discovered in the solar spectrum in 1868 by Lockyer.
Atomic Number2
Atomic Weight4.002602
Mass Number4
Group18
Period1
Blocks
Protons2 p+
Neutrons2 n0
Electrons2 e-
Animated Bohr Model of He (Helium)

Physical Properties

Atomic Radius
Molar Volume
Covalent Radius
Metallic Radius
Ionic Radius
Crystal Radius
Van der Waals Radius
Density
Atomic Radii of the Elements: Helium0102030405060708090100110120130140pmAtomic RadiusCovalent RadiusMetallic RadiusVan der Waals Radius

Chemical Properties

Energy
Proton Affinity
Electron Affinity
Ionization Energy
Ionization Energies of He (Helium)
Heat of Vaporization
Heat of Fusion
Heat of Formation
Electrons
Electron Shells2
Bohr Model: He (Helium)
Valence Electrons2
Lewis Structure: He (Helium)
Electron Configuration1s2
Enhanced Bohr Model of He (Helium)
Orbital Diagram of He (Helium)
Oxidation States
Electronegativity
Electrophilicity Index
States of Matter
PhaseGas
Gas PhaseMonoatomic
Boiling Point
Melting Point
Critical Pressure
Critical Temperature
Triple Point
Visual

Helium is a Colorless. He has a CPK of #ffc0cb, Jmol of #d9ffff, and MOLCAS GV of #d9ffff. The Appearance of Element 2 is colorless gas, exhibiting a red-orange glow when placed in a high-voltage electric field. The Refractive Index of Helium (He) is 1.000035.

Color
Colorless
Appearancecolorless gas, exhibiting a red-orange glow when placed in a high-voltage electric field
Refractive Index
1.000035
Thermodynamic Properties
Thermal Conductivity
Thermal Expansion
Molar Heat Capacity
Specific Heat Capacity
Heat Capacity Ratio (Adiabatic Index)5/3
Electrical Properties
Type
Electrical Conductivity
Electrical Resistivity
Superconducting Point
Magnetism
Typediamagnetic
Magnetic Susceptibility (Mass)
-0.0000000059 m³/Kg
Magnetic Susceptibility (Molar)
-0.0000000000236 m³/mol
Magnetic Susceptibility (Volume)
-0.00000000105
Magnetic Ordering
Curie Point
Neel Point
Structure

The Crystal Structure of Helium is HEX. The lattice constant of He is 3.57 Å. The lattice angles of Element 2 are π/2, π/2, π/2.

Crystal StructureFace Centered Cubic (HEX)
Lattice Constant
Lattice Anglesπ/2, π/2, π/2
Mechanical Properties

The Speed of Sound of Helium is 970 m/s.

Hardness
Bulk Modulus
Shear Modulus
Young's Modulus
Poisson Ratio
Speed of Sound
Classification

The CAS Group of Helium is VIII. The IUPAC Group of He is VIIIA. The Glawe Number of Element 2 is 1. The Mendeleev Number of Helium (He) is 112. The Pettifor Number of Helium is 1. The Geochemical Class of He is volatile. The Goldschmidt Class of Element 2 is atmophile.

CategoryNoble gases, Noble gases
CAS GroupVIII
IUPAC GroupVIIIA
Glawe Number1
Mendeleev Number112
Pettifor Number1
Geochemical Classvolatile
Goldschmidt Classatmophile

Other

The Gas Basicity of Helium is 148.5 kJ/mol. The Dipole Polarizability of He is 1.38375 plus or minus 2.0E-5 a₀. Element 2 has a C6 Dispersion Coefficient (CD) of 1.42 a₀, and C6 Dispersion Coefficient (GB) of 1.47 a₀. The Allotropes of Helium (He) is . The Neutron Cross Section of Helium is 0.007. The Neutron Mass Absorption of He is 1.0E-5. The Quantum Numbers of Element 2 is 1S0. The Space Group of Helium (He) is 225 (Fm_3m).

Gas Basicity
Dipole Polarizability
C6 Dispersion Coefficient
Allotropes
Neutron Cross Section
0.007
Neutron Mass Absorption
0.00001
Quantum Numbers1S0
Space Group225 (Fm_3m)

Isotopes of Helium

Stable Isotopes2
Unstable Isotopes6
Natural Isotopes2
Isotopic Composition4100.00%4100.00%30.00%30.00%

3He

Mass Number3
Neutron Number1
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
-4.25525062 ± 0.00000006
Abundance
0.0002 ± 0.0002
RadioactivityStable
Half LifeNot Radioactive ☢️
Spin1/2
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1934
Parity+

4He

Mass Number4
Neutron Number2
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
0
Abundance
99.9998 ± 0.0002
RadioactivityStable
Half LifeNot Radioactive ☢️
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1908
Parity+

5He

Mass Number5
Neutron Number3
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
602 ± 22 ys
Spin3/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1937
Parity-

Decay ModeIntensity
n (neutron emission)100%

6He

Mass Number6
Neutron Number4
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
0
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
806.92 ± 0.24 ms
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1936
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%
β d (β-delayed deuteron emission)0.000278%

7He

Mass Number7
Neutron Number5
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
2.51 ± 0.07 zs
Spin3/2
Quadrupole Moment
Discovery Year1967
Parity

Decay ModeIntensity
n (neutron emission)100%

8He

Mass Number8
Neutron Number6
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
0
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
119.5 ± 1.5 ms
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1965
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
β (β decay)100%
β n (β-delayed neutron emission)16%
β t (β-delayed triton emission)0.9%

9He

Mass Number9
Neutron Number7
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
2.5 ± 2.3 zs
Spin1/2
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1987
Parity

Decay ModeIntensity
n (neutron emission)100%

10He

Mass Number10
Neutron Number8
Relative Atomic Mass
G-Factor
0
Abundance
Radioactivity☢️ Radioactive
Half Life
260 ± 40 ys
Spin0
Quadrupole Moment
0
Discovery Year1994
Parity+

Decay ModeIntensity
2n (2-neutron emission)100%
Helium discharge tube

History

French astronomer Jules Janssen obtained the first evidence of helium during the solar eclipse of 1868. Norman Lockyer and Edward Frankland suggested the name helium for the new element. In 1895, Sir William Ramsay discovered helium in the uranium mineral cleveite. It was independently discovered in cleveite by Per Teodor Cleve and Abraham Langlet. From the Greek word helios, the sun

DiscoverersSir William Ramsey, Nils Langet, P.T.Cleve
Discovery LocationScotland/Sweden
Discovery Year1895
Etymology (Name Origin)Greek: hêlios (sun).
PronunciationHEE-li-em (English)
Helium is not known to be toxic
Unlike any other element, helium will remain liquid down to absolute zero at normal pressures

Uses

Helium is used as a protective gas in growing silicon and germanium crystals, in titanium and zirconium production, and in gas chromatography. Helium at low temperatures is used in cryogenics. Helium is used for filling balloons and for pressurizing liquid fuel rockets. Helium is used as a shielding gas in arc welding processes. Used in balloons, deep sea diving & welding. Also used in very low temperature research.

Sources

Found in natural gas deposits & in the air (5 parts per billion) Constantly lost to space; replenished by radioactive decay (alpha particles).

Abundance
Abundance in Earth's crust
Natural Abundance (Oceans)
Natural Abundance (Human Body)
Natural Abundance (Meteor)
Natural Abundance (Sun)
23 %
Abundance in Universe
23 %

Nuclear Screening Constants

1s0.3125

Also Known As

  • He
  • element 2
  • 2He

Translations

  • Italianelio
  • Norwegian Bokmålhelium
  • Frenchhélium
  • GermanHelium
  • Polishhel
  • Esperantoheliumo
  • Russianгелий
  • Spanishhelio
  • Dutchhelium
  • Chinese (Traditional)
  • Hebrewהליום
  • AfrikaansHelium
  • AragoneseHelio
  • Arabicهيليوم
  • Egyptian Arabicهيليوم
  • AsturianHeliu
  • AzerbaijaniHelium
  • BelarusianГелій
  • Bulgarianхелий
  • Banglaহিলিয়াম
  • BretonHeliom
  • Bosnianhelij
  • Catalanheli
  • CherokeeᎦᏌᎧᎯᎨ ᎤᏃᎴ
  • Central Kurdishھیلیۆم
  • CorsicanEliu
  • Czechhelium
  • ChuvashГели
  • WelshHeliwm
  • Danishhelium
  • Greekήλιο
  • EstonianHeelium
  • Basquehelio
  • Persianهلیوم
  • Finnishhelium
  • FaroeseHelium
  • Northern FrisianHelium
  • FriulianEli
  • Western Frisianhelium
  • Irishhéiliam
  • Galicianhelio
  • GuaraniTataveve
  • Gujaratiહીલિયમ
  • ManxHailium
  • Hakka ChineseHoi
  • HawaiianHiliuma
  • Hindiहीलियम
  • Fiji HindiHelium
  • CroatianHelij
  • Upper Sorbianhelium
  • Haitian CreoleElyòm
  • Hungarianhélium
  • Armenianհելիում
  • Interlinguahelium
  • Indonesianhelium
  • Ilokohelio
  • Idohelio
  • Icelandichelín
  • Japaneseヘリウム
  • Lojbansolnavni
  • JavaneseHelium
  • Georgianჰელიუმი
  • KazakhГелий
  • Kannadaಹೀಲಿಯಮ್
  • Korean헬륨
  • Komi-PermyakГелий
  • ColognianHelium
  • KurdishHelyûm
  • KomiГелий
  • Latinhelium
  • LuxembourgishHelium
  • LimburgishHelium
  • LigurianElio
  • LombardEli
  • LingalaEliyúmu
  • LithuanianHelis
  • Latvianhēlijs
  • Māorihaumāmā
  • Macedonianхелиум
  • Malayalamഹീലിയം
  • Marathiहेलियम
  • Western MariГелий
  • Malayhelium
  • Burmeseဟီလီယမ်
  • nahTōnatiuyoh
  • Low GermanHelium
  • Nepaliहेलियम
  • Newariहिलियम
  • Norwegian Nynorskhelium
  • Novialhelium
  • NavajoNíłchʼi Ászólí
  • OccitanÈli
  • Punjabiਹੀਲਿਆਮ
  • PapiamentoHelium
  • PiedmonteseElio
  • Western Panjabiہیلیم
  • PonticΉλιον
  • Portuguesehélio
  • QuechuaIlyu
  • Romanianheliu
  • Sanskritहीलियम्
  • Serbo-CroatianHelij
  • Sinhalaහීලියම්
  • Slovakhélium
  • Slovenianhelij
  • AlbanianHeliumi
  • Serbianхелијум
  • Saterland FrisianHelium
  • SundaneseHélium
  • Swedishhelium
  • SwahiliHeli
  • Tamilஈலியம்
  • Teluguహీలియం
  • Tajikгелий
  • Thaiฮีเลียม
  • TagalogHelyo
  • TurkishHelyum
  • Uyghurگېلىي
  • Ukrainianгелій
  • Urduشمصر
  • UzbekGeliy
  • VepsGelii
  • Vietnameseheli
  • West FlemishHelium
  • WarayHelyo
  • KalmykГелион
  • Yiddishהעליום
  • YorubaHílíọ̀m
  • Chinese
  • English (United Kingdom)helium
  • German (Switzerland)Helium
  • English (Canada)Helium
  • Portuguese (Brazil)hélio
  • Cantonese
  • Amharicሒሊየም
  • CebuanoHelyo
  • Odiaହିଲିୟମ
  • ScotsHelium
  • Sicilianeliu
  • emlÊli
  • KikuyuHelium
  • YakutГелий
  • Chinese (Hong Kong SAR China)
  • Chinese (China)
  • Chinese (Simplified)‎氦
  • BashkirГелий
  • SomaliHiliyaam
  • Literary Chinese
  • Belarusian (Taraskievica orthography)гель
  • SamogitianHelis
  • Min Nan ChineseHe
  • AromanianHeliu
  • cdoHâi
  • Scottish GaelicHelium
  • TuvinianГелий
  • Malteseelju
  • Church SlavicХєлїи
  • Paliहेलियम
  • Gan Chinese
  • Mongolianгели
  • azbهلیوم
  • Tibetanཧེ་རླུང་།
  • Bhojpuriहीलियम
  • Jamaican Creole EnglishIiliom
  • Khmerអេ​លី​យ៉ូ​ម
  • Lingua Franca Novaelio
  • Tatarгелий
  • Tatar (Cyrillic)гелий
  • Wu Chinese
  • oloHelium
  • KyrgyzГелий
  • ShonaHelium
  • kbpHeelim
  • Assameseহিলিয়াম
  • Mingrelianჰელიუმი
  • Chinese (Taiwan)
  • Santaliᱦᱤᱞᱤᱭᱟᱢ
  • SardinianÈliu
  • RusynГелий
  • Chinese (Singapore)
  • Chinese (Malaysia)
  • Chinese (Macao SAR China)
  • Moroccan Arabicهيليوم
  • Pashtoهېليوم
  • lldElie
  • BikolElyo
  • CornishHeliom
  • Manipuriꯍꯤꯂꯤꯌꯝ
  • BalineseHélium
  • WalloonEliom
  • Inari SamiHelium
  • Malay (Arabic)هيليوم
  • TachelhitAhilyum
  • BuriatГели
  • Awadhiहेलियम
  • GandaKeriyaamu
  • Sindhiهيليئم
  • blkဟီလီယမ်
  • Korean (North Korea)헬리움
  • ZuluIHwelanga
  • OromoHeeliyeemii