What are some interesting facts about the way helium is used. Please don't tell me that the sun converts it to energy or that it makes your voice squeaky. The more the better. Thanks!
2007-03-07 08:34:07 · 3 answers · asked by MLBfreek35 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Helium is a clear ,colorless, odorless gas that is inert, it does not react. It is used in balloons that are lighter than air. It is used in some deep diving.
There are some uses where no reaction is wanted.
It is also used for cooling some types of nuclear reactors
pressurizing liquid fuel rockets
cryogenics andprotecting semiconductors
The sun reaction is hydrogens being fused into helium.
2007-03-07 08:58:15 · answer #1 · answered by science teacher 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, the sun doesn't actually use Helium to make energy. It uses Hydrogen. Helium is the waste product of that energy producing reaction. Ok, fun facts...
1. The earths atmosphere holds nearly zero Helium. It is too light for the earth's gravity to keep it down.
2. We actually get a lot of Helium as a byproduct of the Petroleum business. He is constantly produced by fission reactions of radioactive isotopes underground. Since oil os coming from deep underground, many of the same pockets of oil and natural gas actually collect He and other gases too.
3. He is used in very deep sea dives with extended down times. This is due to Nitrogen having a narcotic effect at high pressures. In addition, N dissolves quite well in blood and tissues at high pressures. When the pressure is lifted, the Nitrogen can un-dissolve and cause bubbles in your tissues or blood stream. This is the "bends" that you hear about divers getting. He replaces N on long deep dives to prevent these problems. There's other reasons as well but that's a big reason.
2007-03-07 08:49:12 · answer #2 · answered by CurazyJ 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Interesting facts about the way helium is used: It is the second most abundant element in the universe and astrophysicists use it to learn a great deal about stars, nebulae and interstellar matter; It is the most buoyant of the (safe) gasses to use in balloons, blimps and dirigibles; earth-scientists use the measurement of different isotopes of helium for certain dating methods.
2007-03-07 08:39:08 · answer #3 · answered by indiana_jones_andthelastcrusade 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋