Helium

Helium is a colorless noble gas, and is the second lightest element. It is generally very common in the universe, because of nuclear fission of Hydrogen in stars results in it.

Helium's atomic symbol is He, atomic number is 2, and most common isotope is He-4 having 2 neutrons, but He-3 does exist as a decay product of H-3 (Heavy Hydrogen, "Tritium"). It is found right after Hydrogen and before Lithium in the periodic table, and is very very light. It is also a noble gas, so is very non-reactive and forms almost no compounds.

Helium is very well known for being lighter than air, and is quite commonly found in stores to fill balloons with. You can even purchase your own small tank for parties and such. Being a noble gas, it is very nonreactive, and if released into the air it will simply float away to the outermost levels of earth's atmosphere, then just sit there without reacting to anything.

Commercially, Helium is gotten by super-chilling air until the different gases liquify out, once most of the more common gases like nitrogen, oxygen, etc. are gone, most of what remains are various noble gases, including Helium.

Helium doesn't have many scientific uses because it is inert and no chemicals will bond with it, but because it is inert, it can be used to protect reactive metals from the oxygen in the air.

One interesting aspect is that since it is so much lighter than air, sound waves travel very fast through it, and as a result sound higher pitched. This effect can be seen if you fill your lungs with helium, then try to talk, it will result in a higher and probably hilarious voice (However breathing any gas can be hazardous, even inert gases, because you might not get enough Oxygen. Don't breath to much helium without taking some comfortable breaths of air in between)

My Helium ampoules (sealed glass tubes, see above) are self-made and not very high quality, but good enough for me. I made them by sealing one end of a glass tube, filling it with water, then, while submerged in water, bubbling helium up into it, then melting the tube shut just above the water. The water is to keep air out, but as a consequence the final product probably is around 5% water vapor, making it impure. Once again, close enough for my purposes. I made two from a helium balloon I commandeered(stole) from a political campaign booth at a fair.

This is all I have to say about Helium for now, tell me if I've left anything out.

Thanks,

~Ben