Helium: The Most Prominent Element In The Universe

Even though helium (He) is the second most abundant element in the universe, it is the most important element. First, let me provide you with some information about helium and its history Helium was first discovered in the sun and not the earth. In 1868, astronomer Pierre Janssen found this gas while watching the colors when the sun was going thru a full solar eclipse. Since the Greek word for sun is helios, he named the gas helium. It was not until 1895 that helium was discovered on earth by English physicist Sir William Ramsay. Helium is in the noble gas group in the periodic table. Even though it is a chemical element, it has no color, no smell nor taste. It does not burn and can be used with other elements such as oxygen but will not react with them. Since it is lighter than air, it can rise to the edge of space. Helium can be changed to liquid and gets cold enough to cool anything. A lot of helium is found in outer space as He atoms are inside stars. The helium we are familiar with that comes in cylinder tanks is made by the natural decay of radioactive elements in the outer layer of the earth. Most of this comes from natural gas deposits in wells found in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas but some has been from Wyoming, Utah and Colorado. …show more content…
The number one use of helium is cooling the scanners in the MRI machines used in hospitals. This is of great importance for doctors to properly diagnose patients so they will know how to treat them and may save lives by getting information needed so quickly. NASA uses helium to send their 23-foot duration balloons loaded with instruments to the edge of space to study such things as cosmic rays. It is also used to empty and clean rocket engine systems. Weather balloons are used to help determine the conditions of the weather such as the