Helium is known to be the second lightest and second most abundant element next to Hydrogen. In the periodic table of elements, it heads the noble gas group having the atomic number 2. Helium has the lowest boiling and melting points among these elements. Unlike other elements, it never freezes, down to absolute zero temperature under normal pressure, it remains liquid.

Because this gas is lighter than air and non-flammable, it is used to inflate balloons and airships. More importantly, helium is used in producing rocket fuel condensing hydrogen and oxygen. Other uses include MRI scanner applications, arc welding processes and in producing superconductivity of some metals. Mixing with oxygen, it is used as artificial air for divers and those working under pressure.

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It is toxic and a very dangerous unstable chemical compound. It is used mainly to serve as foaming agent in the preparation of polymer foams. It is also used as precursor to polymerization catalysts and pharmaceutical companies. It is also being utilized for us as rocket fuel.

It is also essential in nuclear and conventional electrical power plant to control dissolved oxygen. It is also used to minimize corrosion.

This chemical compound is utilized as a precursor to blowing agents. Additionally, sodium azide which is a gas-forming agent in air bags is also derived from hydrazine.

It serves as excellent propellant on board space vehicles in order to minimize the concentration of dissolved nitrogen and to control the water’s ph level.

This compound was first utilized as rocket fuel during the Second World War under the code hydrazine hydrate. It is also being used as monopropellant to maneuver thrusters of spacecrafts.

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Long ago, people believed that there were four main elements: earth, water, air and fire. However, modern chemistry has proven that there are more. As of March 2010, there are 118 ?discovered? elements on the planet. Some exist naturally, while others are products of various processes to isolate them from their ores and/or generate them from other elements. There are numerous possibilities of undiscovered elements in space.

The atomic number, commonly denoted as ?Z,? is the assigned label of distinction for each element. It refers to the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom. Together with the protons are the neutrons, forming the bulk of the atom?s mass. Revolving around the nucleus are electrons that bear a negative charge, usually containing the atom?s energy.

Some light elements like hydrogen and helium are used by stars as fuels. When their atoms undergo fusion, they can release tremendous heat and energy.

Everything around us is made of elements that are bonded together. Some can even bond in different ways, forming allotropes. For example, pencil graphite is made of carbon. However, if they are bonded in a crystalline structure, carbon can also form diamonds.

The Element Song

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In fact, a group of astronomers and scientists have recently collaborated to understand the nature of icy sublimation in most stars and planets. Their study is centered on the presence of ice sublimates or ice which is formed from gas.

Through their study, they have determined that the icy dust particles form dust rings through the pile ups at the edges of their sublimation zones. Here they sublime substantially at temperatures from 100-110 K. The distance of the dust rings have been determined to be at 20-35 AU (astronomical units) from the central star.

It has been discovered that refractory particles known as residues of ice sublimation fill the inner disk of the stars, whereas, the outer icy dust disk exceeds the optical depth of the inner disks. These could be the reasons why there are inner holes formed inside the sublimation zones along the dust rings in the outer edges of the hole.

The icy sublimation may be the very same reasons why there are differences in the number of rings of Saturn and Jupiter, or why Uranus’ ring are fainter than Saturn’s rings. The thickness and the volume icy sublimates remaining is a result of different nuclear reactions of highly energized cosmic particles, which may also be factors to the existence of planetary and stellar rings.

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