The Periodic Table

The Noble Gases - Uses of - Helium - Neon - Argon - Krypton - Xenon.

Helium

1) Is used in balloons and airships (not hot air balloons!).
It is less dense than air (it will float)
and it is safe, since it will not burn (unlike hydrogen).

2) Helium mixed with oxygen is used by deep sea divers.
If normal air is used, the nitrogen in the air (78%)
will dissolve in the blood as the diver goes deep under the sea
because the water pressure increases.
As the diver comes back up to the surface,
nitrogen comes back out of the blood as tiny bubbles.
This is extremely painful (called 'The Bends').
 Helium will not dissolve in the blood and so the problem is avoided.

3) Helium is used with neon in some lasers.
(The common red laser is helium-neon).

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