All Science, All the Time Helium is a chemical element that occurs in great abundance throughout the universe, although it is not as widely distributed on Earth. It typically takes the form of a gas, and it heads up the list of noble gases in the periodic table of elements. Like other noble gases, helium is extremely stable, and it does not readily form compounds with other elements. There are a number of uses for this gas, and it is widely considered to be a very useful and valuable element. The atomic number of helium is two, making it the second lightest element. It is identified on the periodic table with the symbol He, and it is the least reactive of the noble gases. As a result, helium is one of the least reactive elements on Earth. Its extreme stability makes it a popular choice for a range of uses in situations where unstable materials are being handled, or where the use of other elements might be dangerous.
Posted on: Wed, 14 Aug 2013 03:25:19 +0000