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- Name: Helium
- Symbol: He
- Atomic number: 2
- Atomic mass: 4.002602 u ± 0.000002 u
- History/discovery: Helium was first discovered in 1868 by Pierre Janssen, a French astronomer. He was watching a solar eclipse in India when he saw yellow spectral emission lines. It was then named helium by Norman Lockyer, an English astronomer.
- Abundance in the universe: Helium is the second-most abundant element in the universe. It makes up 0.0005% of the earth’s atmosphere. The small amount of helium in the earth’s atmosphere is not held to the earth by gravity but, rather lost into space - in other words gravity doesn’t hold helium down.
- Useful in every day life: The most popular use of helium is in balloons because it makes them rise. The Goodyear blimp is another popular use of helium.
- Is helium reactive?: It is non-reactive. Since its shell is full it doesn’t form compounds with anything. Its shell only has room for its 2 electrons.
- Interesting things:
-was named after the Greek name for the sun, Helios
-helium makes people’s voices high
Poem/literary reference: A poem called “Helium” by Siobhan Buchanan:
I am Helium
I am number 2
I hate Mixing with other Chemicals
I love to be by myself at the top
You cant see me, taste me or smell me
I am Helium
I can make voices sound funny, if I try!
I can make things float for I am lighter than the sky
I can go miles under the sea
And still breathe!
I am number 2
I am Helium and its just for me and you!
Runaway Blimp video: This week a military blimp broke lose from were it was tied down in Maryland. It floated all the way to Pennsylvania and landed there.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/28/politics/loose-blimp-norad-east-coast/
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