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[Chemical Knowledge]：Properties and Uses of Helium

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The properties and uses of helium are of great significance in the field of raw materials for chemical production. In this paper, the properties, production methods, purification technology and application of helium in chemical production will be discussed in detail.

1. the properties of helium

Helium is a rare gas with the element symbol He and atomic number 2. It has the following properties:

1. Colorless, odorless, non-toxic, and does not chemically react with other elements or compounds, so it is called an inert gas.
2. Helium has a very small density, only 1/7 of that of air, so its concentration in the earth's atmosphere is very low, only 5.24 ppm.
3. The melting point and boiling point of helium are very low, -272.2 ℃ and -268.9 ℃, respectively, so it is gaseous at room temperature.
4. Helium has excellent thermal conductivity and diffusion, can quickly transfer heat.

2. helium production methods

helium production methods are mainly the following:

1. natural gas separation method: helium extraction from natural gas is the most commonly used production methods. The helium content in natural gas is usually 0.3-0.7%, which can be separated by cryogenic separation or adsorption.
2. Air separation method: The content of helium in the air is low, only 5.24 ppm, but helium can be extracted by large air separation devices.
3. Radioactive mineral extraction method: Some radioactive minerals contain helium, which can be extracted by heating and decompression.

3. helium purification technology

Because helium may be mixed with impurities during the production process, it needs to be purified. Common purification techniques include:

1. Adsorption: The use of adsorbents to adsorb impurities to obtain pure helium.
2. Condensation method: The impurities are condensed into a solid by cooling, and then pure helium is separated.
3. Membrane separation method: the use of selective permeability of the membrane, so that helium through the membrane and impurities are trapped, so as to obtain pure helium.

4. application of helium in chemical production

helium has a wide range of applications in the field of chemical production, the following list of several main aspects:

1. protective gas: because helium does not react with other elements or compounds, it is often used as a protective gas to prevent metal oxidation or nitriding during processing. For example, in welding processes such as arc welding and laser welding, the use of helium as a shielding gas can improve welding quality and efficiency.
2. Leak detection gas: Helium has excellent diffusivity and is often used in leak detection tests. The helium gas is filled into the tested object, and then the sealing performance of the object is judged by detecting the leakage of helium gas.
3. Refrigerant: Helium has a very low boiling point and can be used as a refrigerant in low-temperature experiments and super-conductive technology.
4. Carrier gas: In gas chromatography, helium is often used as a carrier gas to bring the sample into the column for separation and analysis.

In conclusion, the properties and uses of helium are of great importance in the field of raw materials for chemical production. Understanding the properties, production methods, purification technology and application fields of helium will help to improve the efficiency and quality of chemical production and promote the sustainable development of the chemical industry.

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