Guide to the Elements: Helium

What is it?  Helium is the noblest of the noble gases.  It is incredibly inert, meaning that it almost never reacts with other elements.  At room temperature, helium atoms are paired with each other to form the gas He₂.  Helium has two protons and two electrons.  Virtually all helium on earth has two neutrons, while every millionth or so helium atom only has one.

Why should I care?   Most known for use in lighter than air balloons, helium is more often used for medical and industrial purposes.  Helium, which becomes liquid at the astoundingly low temperature of 4.2K (−269°C or −452°F), is used as a cryogen (a cooling medium) for superconducting magnets in MRI machines, research magnets, and large particle accelerators such as the new Large Hadron Collider at the CERN research center in Switzerland.  Helium is the only element with a boiling point low enough to act as a cryogen for these so-called low-temperature superconductors.  Helium is also used in arc welding and as a protective gas when growing silicon and germanium crystals.

Where does it come from?   The earth’s supply of helium comes from the nuclear decay of radioactive materials, which is ongoing.  When substances such as Uranium decay, they release beta particles (helium).  Most helium makes its way through the earth’s crust, and floats up out of the earth’s atmosphere.  Some, however, is trapped in pockets with natural gas. 

The majority of the world’s helium comes from gas mines in the United States.  Until 1996, the U.S. military held a large stockpile of helium reserves.  Since then, much has been sold off under the Helium Privatization Act.  Withdrawals from this stockpile currently account for 1/3 of the world supply.  Over half of actual production comes from Texas (where a single facility accounts for 35% of world production) and Kansas.  Other large producers include Algeria, Qatar, Russia, and Poland. 

Not all natural gas mines have a sufficient concentration of helium to make extraction economical, though what constitutes a sufficient concentration may rise as the price of helium increases.  Since the end of 2007, world-wide helium prices have increased by about 50%.  If these trends continue, we will likely see gas mines around the world add helium extraction capabilities.  Right now, many just let it go. 

Can we recycle it?   To a point.  Helium in balloons for instance, might be re-gathered for future use.  Some MRI machines are now manufactured to capture and reuse boiled off helium.  However, some helium will inevitably be lost.  And once we’ve used up all of the world’s natural gas supply, we won’t have any economically-viable source of helium.

Are there environmental concerns?   No.  Helium is environmentally neutral, thanks to its unwillingness to interact with other elements.