What is Helium as on the Periodic Table? Definition of the Helium Element
A colorless, odorless inert gaseous element occurring in natural gas and with radioactive ores.  It is less soluble in water than any other gas. It is used as a component of artificial atmospheres and laser media, as a refrigerant, as a lifting gas for balloons, and as a super fluid in cryogenic research. Helium was the first gas used for filling balloons and dirigibles. The Atomic Number of this element is 2 and the Element Symbol is He.

What is Helium? Origin / Meaning of the name Helium
The name originates from the Greek word 'helios' meaning sun  because the element was discovered by spectroscopy during a solar eclipse in the sun's chromosphere by the French astronomer Pierre-Jules-Cesar Janssen.

Facts about the Discovery and History of the Helium Element
Helium was first detected during a solar eclipse in 1868 as a bright yellow line in the spectrum of the chromosphere of the Sun, by French astronomer Pierre Janssen . It was discovered by Sir William Ramsey in 1895. The English astronomer Norman Lockyer and the English chemist Edward Frankland named the element.

Sir William Ramsay (1852 - 1916)
Sir William Ramsay discovered the noble gases and received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1904 "in recognition of his services in the discovery of the inert gaseous elements in air". These elements included Argon, Neon, Krypton and Xenon. Ramsay also isolated helium which had been observed in the spectrum of the sun but had not been found on earth. In 1910 Ramsay also made and characterized radon.

Sir William Ramsay (1852 - 1916)

What is Helium? Occurrence of the Helium Element
Helium exists only as a monatomic gas

Abundances of the element in different environments
% in Universe 23%
% in Sun 23%
% in Meteorites N/A
% in Earth's Crust 5.5×10^-7%
% in Oceans 7.2×10^-10%
% in Humans N/A

Medical Uses of Helium - Health and Treatments
Interesting information on the Medical Uses of Helium, Health and Treatments. The main medical uses of helium are in respiratory therapy and testing. It is also used in the prevention of nitrogen narcosis and decompression sickness. Helium-oxygen therapy is the administration of a mixture of helium and oxygen.

Associated Uses of Helium
Component of artificial atmospheres and laser media
Refrigerant
Lifting gas for balloons
Superfluid in cryogenic research
Deep sea diving
Helium balloons, tanks, neon laser
People sometimes breathe in Helium as a joke to make their voices sound higher than they normally do

What is Helium? The Properties of the Helium Element
Name of Element : Helium
Symbol of Element : He
Atomic Number of Helium :  2
Atomic Mass: 4.002602 amu
Melting Point: -272.0 °C - 1.15 °K
Boiling Point: -268.6 °C - 4.549994 °K
Number of Protons/Electrons in Helium : 2
Number of Neutrons in Helium : 2
Crystal Structure: Hexagonal
Density @ 293 K: 0.1785 g/cm3
Color of Helium : colorless

Helium as on the Periodic Table
Check out Helium on the Periodic Table which arranges each chemical element according to its atomic number, as based on the Periodic Law, so that chemical elements with similar properties are in the same column. Our Periodic Table is simple to use - just click on the symbol for Helium as on the Periodic Table for additional information and for an instant comparison of the Atomic Weight, Melting Point, Boiling Point and Mass - G/cc with any other element. An invaluable source of facts and information as a Chemistry reference guide.

Other elements classified as Noble Gases
The other elements contained in this classification are as follows:

• Neon
• Argon
• Krypton
• Xenon
• Radon

What is Helium - IUPAC and the Modern Standardised Periodic Table
The Standardised Periodic Table in use today was agreed by the International Union of Pure Applied Chemistry, IUPAC, in 1985 and now recognises more periods and elements than Dimitri  Mendeleev knew in his day in his day but still all fitting into his concept of  the "Periodic Table" in which Helium is just one element that can be found.

Learn about what is Helium with these fast facts...
These articles contain facts and information relating to Helium and each of the other elements including the Periodic Symbol,  group, classification, properties and atomic number which is often referred to as the Periodic Table Number. Test your knowledge of chemistry and the Periodic Table by completing the Element Symbols and Atomic Numbers on our Blank Periodic Table. Chemistry students will also find a helpful section on Chemical Formulas.