What kind of element is helium

What is Helium Gas?

Derived from the Greek word helios (meaning “sun”), helium gas was first discovered in the sun’s corona, which contains 25% helium. As the second most abundant element in the universe, helium gas is remarkably scarce on Earth. This lightweight noble gas, produced through nuclear fusion and radioactive decay, is colorless, odorless, inert, and has the lowest boiling point of all elements.

Where Does Helium Gas Come From?
On Earth, helium gas primarily forms as a byproduct of uranium and thorium decay. It accumulates underground alongside natural gas reserves and is commercially extracted when concentrations exceed 0.3%.

Key Sources of Helium Gas:

• Major Reserves: The U.S. (Texas and Kansas), Qatar, and Algeria hold the largest helium gas reserves.

• Top Suppliers: The U.S., Russia, and Algeria dominate global helium supply. Notably, the U.S. Federal Helium Reserve in Texas—once supplying 30% of the world’s helium—closed in 2021, intensifying supply concerns.

• Future Potential: Recent discoveries in Tanzania could boost helium production, though extraction challenges remain.

Critical Uses of Helium Gas

Beyond its well-known role in filling party balloons and airships, helium gas is indispensable for advanced scientific, medical, and industrial applications:

1. Ultra-Cold Technology:

   • Liquid helium cools equipment to near absolute zero (-273.15°C), enabling breakthroughs like superconductivity (used in Maglev trains) and MRI machines.

   • Essential for cooling nuclear reactors, rocket fuel, and the Large Hadron Collider.

2. Industrial Protection:

   • Its inert nature creates safe atmospheres for manufacturing fiber optics, semiconductors, and arc welding.

3. Life-Saving Applications:

   • Helium-oxygen mixtures prevent decompression sickness in deep-sea divers.

Why is Helium Gas an Endangered Resource?

1. Non-Renewable & Scarce:

   • Helium gas cannot be replenished once released into the atmosphere, as it escapes into space.

   • Limited global reserves are rapidly depleting, threatening supply chains.

2. Price Volatility:

   • Costs surged 250% in five years, driven by supply disruptions (e.g., Qatar’s 2017 blockade cut 30% of global helium supply).

3. Recycling Challenges:

   • Only minimal infrastructure exists to recycle liquid helium, despite its boil-off risks.

4. Global Impact:

   • A secure helium supply aligns with the U.N. Sustainable Development Goal #3 (Health & Well-Being), as it powers vital medical diagnostics like MRI scanners.