whcrt5 the we? ALTON BANKS saahwt Tern State University

San Marcos. TX 78666

Helium energy-producing fusion reactions, helium was rare until the discovery of helium-rich wells in the Southwest. The bulk of the free world's supply of helium is now found in these wells

Symbol: HE in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Following the discovery of Ammic number: 2 Atomic weight 4.00260

these wells, the price of the gas plummeted from $2500/ft3 in

Melting point: 0.8 K (26 atm) 1915 to 1.5 cents/ft3 in 1940 and is now about 15 cents/ft3. ~ o i ~ i n g point: 4.2 K Helium's uses are predicated on its low density and its Density: 0.0002 chemically inert nature. A large percentage of the current

applications of helium (33%) are in cryogenics. About 20% of

EEEmaB the applications of helium are in welding and industrial applications. Mixtures of helium and oxygen are used in tanks for underwater breathing devices. A small percentage (4%) of its uses are as a lifting gas. Helium has also found a use in lasers.

The first report of helium's existence was that of Jans- Some of these applications are shown on "The Periodic sen in 1868 when he noticed a new lme in a solar s~ectrum Table Videodisc" in frames 36303-36320. taken during an eclipae. Lockyer and Frankland suggested the name helium (GI. helios, the Sun). However, credit for the discovery of helium usually goes to Ramsay who found the element in the uranium-containing mineral, clevite.

Helium is one of the most abundant elements in the universe, second only in abundance to hydrogen. Found in great profusion in the stars in which it is a product of the

Sources "KC? Di-emx Exploring ths Pmpertie of the Chemiesl Elements"; JCE: Software

ass, le(1). Banks.A. J. "ThePrriodieTableVidedsc",JCE:SofluwD 1989. Speiallmue 1. Hondbmk of Chemist?? & Physics, 52th ed.: Wcast, Robert C.; Cbemid Rubber: Ckve-

land, OH, 1971-1972, p 515. K i r k - 0 t h ~ Coneire Eneyclopedio of Chemical Technolqgy; Interaeionee: New York,

1985: pp5SSffi.

Volume 66 Number 11 November 1989 945