Helium is a chemical element with symbol He and atomic number 2. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, inert, monatomic gas that heads the noble gas group in the periodic table. Its boiling and melting points are the lowest among all the elements.
Three reasons Helium stands out
- 1
Makes your voice go squeaky.
- 2
It was discovered in the Sun before it was ever found on Earth.
- 3
The only element that stays liquid all the way down to absolute zero at normal pressure.
A gas born before the stars
Most helium formed during the universe’s first few minutes, long before planets existed. Its closed electron shell makes it reluctant to react, while its exceptionally low boiling point keeps it liquid in machines that need extreme cold. Once released, its light atoms can eventually escape Earth altogether.