Helium, the lighter gas
Discover the incredible story of helium, from its discovery to its position in the periodic table. Learn about its unique properties and diverse uses in everyday life and advanced technology. Perfect for students, educators, and science enthusiasts. Join us to uncover the science behind helium and its amazing applications!
Category
📚
LearningTranscript
00:00What if I told you there's a gas that can make you sound like a chipmunk?
00:04Yep, it's helium. Let's uncover some cool facts.
00:08Discovered in 1868, helium is out of this world, literally. It was first found in the sun's
00:15spectrum before we even knew it was here on earth. Helium sits right next to hydrogen on
00:20the periodic table, with an atomic number of 2. It's got a mass number of around 4,
00:26making it super light, so light in fact that it helps balloons float.
00:30This noble gas is colourless, odourless and tasteless. And get this, it doesn't react with
00:36other elements. That's why it's perfect for keeping things like your cereal fresh in those
00:41airtight packets. But helium's not just for party tricks or breakfast options. It's used in MRI
00:47machines to cool down the magnets, and in deep sea diving to help prevent the bends. Oh, and NASA?
00:54They use tons of it to clean rocket engines. So next time you inhale a bit of helium and sound
00:59like a cartoon character, remember, this gas does a lot more than just make you giggle.
01:04Stay curious everyone!