Noble Gas and Helium Essay Example

that led Lockyer to speculate about the existence of a previously unidentified element on Earth.

The element Helium was named after the Greek sun god, Helios, due to the belief that it originated from the Sun. Chemist William Ramsey, who had previously discovered heavy noble gases such as argon, neon, krypton, and xenon, came across a mineral called clevite. This mineral released a gas when heated, initially mistaken for Nitrogen. However, later on Ramsey realized that this gas emitted the same yellow spectral line observed by Janssen and Lockyer. Consequently, Helium became an officially recognized element on Earth and was included in the periodic table.

Helium was recognized by many scientists for its potential usefulness, and their belief has been proven correct. Today, Helium is not only acknowledged as an "element" but also finds practical applications in everyday life. One of these applications involves its lesser-known role in neon signs, which allows them to be not solely reliant on neon gas.

Neon, a specific color, is distinct from the colors produced by other noble gases when they burn. When a neon sign emits a blue light, it actually contains argon instead of neon. On the other hand, inside a neon sign tube, helium appears as a vibrant orange and red color when it burns. This color is produced when the helium is heated and an electric current passes through it in the sign tube.

When helium is inhaled, it can cause lightheadedness and a high-pitched voice. However, it is crucial to understand that helium is not toxic. The only drawback of inhaling helium from a balloon is the possibility of feeling dizzy due to reduced oxygen levels. This can

be particularly risky for children, as they may even faint if they deeply breathe in helium.

Helium, a gas lighter than air, is used in objects like balloons and blimps to achieve floating. It should be noted that if you hold your breath around helium, fainting may occur due to lack of oxygen rather than the helium itself. While helium is a safe choice for achieving buoyancy, hydrogen is extremely hazardous and flammable and should not be employed in this manner.

Helium is a non-flammable and safer option compared to Hydrogen. Divers opt for Helium and employ a blend of oxygen and helium for underwater breathing when under pressure. To prevent the risks associated with inhaling pure oxygen, divers incorporate helium into their respiration mixture while diving. It is essential to maintain the appropriate helium-to-oxygen ratio in order to ensure safety during dives at varying depths.

Helium is commonly used in cryogenics as it becomes extremely cold when liquefied. With a boiling point of 4 Kelvin (452 degrees Fahrenheit), helium is frequently employed in magnets for MRIs and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. These magnets are built using superconducting wires, which allow for the uninterrupted flow of electric current as long as they maintain their required level of coldness.

Helium ensures perpetual magnet operation without resistance loss over time. Liquid helium is employed for achieving extremely cold temperatures. Additionally, helium is commonly used for weather balloons, which ascend towards the upper atmosphere with the aid of large helium-filled balloons.

Scientists use balloons to study atmospheric conditions in great detail, allowing them to accurately predict the weather. Balloons also have another useful application: welding. In arc welding, an electric arc is created

to heat the materials being worked on, reaching very high temperatures and causing them to melt.

When working with high temperatures, it is crucial to protect materials from atmospheric damage by utilizing an inert gas. Helium, known for its exceptional heat conductivity and assistance in heat penetration during welding, is the preferred choice of inert gas. Erasmus Haworth devised a method for extracting helium after its discovery. While conducting an oil drilling operation in Kansas, a portion of the gas extracted was determined to be non-combustible.

Erasmus Haworth brought samples of the escaping gas to the University of Kansas for analysis. Upon examination, he determined that the gas composition contained 72% nitrogen, 15% methane, 1% hydrogen, and 12% of an unidentified gas. Furthermore, he found that 1.84% of the gas sample was comprised of helium.

The United States took the lead in supplying helium when significant amounts of this gas were discovered under the Great Plains. The Hugoton and gas fields located in Kansas, Texas, and Oklahoma contain the largest reserves of helium. In 1925, the US government established a National Helium Reserve in Texas.

The goal was to supply military airships during war and commercial airships during peace. For years, the United States has been the main source of usable helium, producing over 90% globally. The other 10% originated from extraction facilities in Canada, Poland, Russia, and other nations. In the 1990s, Algeria built a large-scale plant that successfully fulfilled Europe's entire demand by generating 17 million cubic meters of helium.

In a short span of time, Algeria became the second largest producer of helium. However, the consumption of helium and production costs rose significantly. From 2002 to 2007,

there was a double increase in helium prices, and in 2008, major suppliers raised their prices by 50 percent. Helium is obtained from natural gas through fractional distillation. The helium content in natural gas can reach up to 7 percent.

Helium is unique among elements as it has a lower boiling point compared to others. In order to liquefy most gases, high pressure and low temperatures are applied. To purify the helium gas, the temperature is further reduced, causing nitrogen and other gases to precipitate out of the mixture. Finally, activated charcoal is employed as the last purification step. This process yields extremely pure helium, with a final result of 99.

The helium produced is 99.5% pure Grade-A helium. During the final production step, the majority of the helium is liquefied using the cryogenic process. This is important for applications that require liquid helium and helps suppliers reduce transportation costs. Their largest liquid helium containers are over 5 times larger than the largest gaseous helium tube trailers.

Since 2008, around 169 million standard cubic meters of helium have been extracted from natural gas or taken from helium reserves. The majority, approximately 78 percent, comes from the United States, while 10 percent is from Algeria. The remaining helium comes from Russia, Poland, and Qatar. The primary source of helium extraction is the Hugoton natural gas field in the United States, which is located near Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Previously, a significant amount of this gas was transported through pipelines to the National Helium Reserve. However, by 1995, the Reserve had accumulated one billion cubic metres of gas and was in debt for 1.4 billion dollars.

In 1996, the Congress of

the United States decided to phase out the reserve, leading to the current depletion and sale of it to other private industries since 2005. The military value of helium as a lifting gas was recognized by the Army and the Navy during World War 1, sparking federal interest in helium. As a result, more plants were built during World War 2 to meet the increased demand for helium. The Helium Act Amendments of 1960 then allowed the Secretary of the Interior to establish long-term contracts for the conservation of helium, which would be stored in the Cliffside Reservoir in Texas with the assistance of private helium operations.

The Act empowered the Secretary of the Interior to oversee helium production and purification plants as well as manage the transmission and shipping facilities. It ensured that the control over these plants would be limited in order to prevent excessive power. Additionally, the Act allowed the Secretary to borrow up to $47.5 million annually with compound interest for the purpose of purchasing helium. Furthermore, it authorized the Bureau of Mines to establish prices that would cover all expenses related to the program.

The program's cost encompassed debts, interests, and a 25-year repayment period for the debt. As a result of the 1960 Act, four privately-owned natural gas producing companies constructed five facilities for helium production and engaged in contracts lasting 22 years with the Bureau of Mines. To finance helium purchases, the Bureau of Mines began borrowing from the Treasury. By 1973, the government had accumulated an excessive amount of helium in storage, totaling 970 million cubic meters, surpassing their needs. Consequently, they cancelled the purchase contracts, leading to years

of controversy and leaving most private helium extraction plants unused.

In Helium state 1, Helium exists in either liquid or gas form, without any color or odor. Therefore, liquid Helium is referred to as a Quantum liquid. In helium state 2, liquid helium transitions into a superfluid at approximately 2.

1768 Kelvin. A super fluid is a phase of matter with a heat capacity in which unusual effects occur with liquids. These effects occur when the liquids reach a state called the “Lambda Point," where the liquid's velocity is zero and friction is overcome by surface interaction. This unique state can only be observed in helium-2,3, and 4 at temperatures below 2. 1768 Kelvin. Helium is a popular and well-known element in the periodic table.

Helium has various applications in life, including helium party balloons, neon lights, and weather balloons. Divers greatly appreciate helium as it enables them to breathe underwater. Additionally, the sale of helium worldwide has significantly contributed to the United States' economy. Without the discovery of helium on the sun by Pierre Janssen, it is possible that helium would not exist today.

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