helium
UK: ˈhiːliəm | US: ˈhiːliəm
n. A colorless, odorless, inert gaseous element (atomic number 2), the lightest of the noble gases, used in cryogenics and as a lifting gas in balloons.
helium = helio<sun> + ium<chemical element suffix>
- helio: From Greek hēlios (ἥλιος), meaning "sun." The element was first detected in the solar spectrum during an 1868 eclipse.
- ium: A suffix used in chemistry to denote metallic elements (e.g., sodium, uranium).
Etymology Origin:
Helium’s name reflects its celestial discovery. Scientists observed a yellow spectral line in sunlight during an eclipse, initially mistaking it for sodium. Later, it was identified as a new element and named after Helios, the Greek sun god, due to its solar origin. The suffix -ium aligns with naming conventions for elements.
Helium is used to inflate party balloons because it is lighter than air.
Liquid helium cools superconducting magnets in MRI machines.
The diver’s voice sounded high-pitched after inhaling helium.
Helium is the second most abundant element in the universe.
Scientists study helium isotopes to understand Earth’s mantle processes.