Wholesale Rare Gas Factory Price High Purity Cylinder Gas He Helium

Product Description

Helium gas (He) is a colorless, odorless, and inert noble gas. It is the second lightest and second most abundant element in the universe, after hydrogen. Here are some key points about helium gas:

1. Chemical Composition: Helium is a chemical element with the atomic number 2, meaning it has 2 protons in its nucleus. Its atomic symbol is He.

2. Properties: Helium possesses several important properties:

   • Inertness: Helium is chemically inert, meaning it does not readily react with other substances. It is non-toxic and does not form compounds with other elements under normal conditions.

   • Density: Helium is lighter than air and has a density that is approximately 0.14 times that of air.

   • Low Boiling and Melting Points: Helium has the lowest boiling point (-268.93 degrees Celsius or -452 degrees Fahrenheit) and melting point (-272.2 degrees Celsius or -458 degrees Fahrenheit) of all the elements.

   • Low Solubility: Helium is one of the least soluble gases in water and other liquids.

3. Occurrence and Production: Helium is relatively rare on Earth and is primarily obtained as a byproduct of natural gas extraction. It is present in small amounts in the atmosphere, but most commercial helium is derived from natural gas reservoirs, where it is produced by the radioactive decay of uranium and thorium. Helium can be extracted through a process called cryogenic distillation.

4. Uses: Helium gas has several important applications:

   • Cryogenics: Helium is widely used as a cryogenic refrigerant. It is used to cool superconducting magnets in medical MRI machines, particle accelerators, and other scientific and industrial equipment. Its extremely low boiling point allows it to achieve very low temperatures.

   • Balloons and Airships: Helium is lighter than air, and it is commonly used to fill balloons and airships, providing them with buoyancy. It is safer than hydrogen gas, which is highly flammable.

   • Welding and Leak Detection: In certain welding processes, helium is used as a shielding gas to protect the weld area from atmospheric contamination. It is also used in leak detection methods due to its low density and ability to diffuse through small openings.

   • Breathing Mixtures: Helium-oxygen mixtures, known as heliox, are used in deep-sea diving and medical applications to reduce the effects of high-pressure environments on the human body.

   • Scientific Research: Helium is used in various scientific research applications, including in cryogenics, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and as a carrier gas in gas chromatography.

5. Conservation and Future Supply: Helium is a finite resource, and its supply is limited. Due to its importance in various critical applications, there have been concerns about its availability and conservation. Efforts are being made to improve helium recovery, recycling, and conservation practices.

It is worth noting that helium is a valuable and limited resource, and its wasteful use should be avoided.