Helium

Helium is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, non-toxic, inert, monatomic gas. After hydrogen, Helium is the lightest gas in the periodic table which is why it’s commonly used to inflate balloons and airships. The largest use of liquid helium is used in cryogenics, particularly in the cooling of superconducting magnets, with the main commercial application being in MRI scanner. Helium is a pressurising and purge gas, as a protective atmosphere for arc welding and in processes such as growing crystals. Helium is used in the field of cryogenics in superconductors, quantum computing, and X-ray crystallography. It also has many industrial and recreational uses.