Michael Parker age 10: of Yoakum Texas

What is helium?

Helium was discovered in 1868. Certain telescope pictures told that an unknown element was present in the sun. It was not known t o exist on earth  So it was named from the Greek word helioso meaning the sun. Later it was found to be present also on earth. It was discovered in certain minerals and minute traces of it were found in the air.

Helium is a lights invisible gas. It is notable because it will not catch fire. This fact made it very useful in balloons and blimps. Hydrogen had been used as the lifting gas for these airships. It is the lightest substance in the world and will rise in the air because it is lighter than the air. Helium is almost as light as hydrogen as a lifting gas. Buts. whereas hydrogen will catch fire and burn at the slightest excuses helium will not. It is the safest light gas to take a aloft an airship.

Most of the world’s helium if. mixed with natural gas underground. Some is given off in certain radioactive processes in rocks and minerals. The amount present in the air is too small to be worth the taking.