Helium
Helium is a chemical element with the symbol He and atomic number 2. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, inert, monatomic gas that heads the noble gas series in the periodic table. Its boiling and melting points are the lowest among all the elements and it exists only as a gas except in extreme conditions. Helium is the second lightest element and is the second most abundant element in the observable universe, being present at about 24% of the total elemental mass, which is more than 12 times the mass of all the heavier elements combined. Helium is used in a variety of applications, including cryogenics, welding, and as a coolant in nuclear reactors. In space and astronautical engineering, helium is used as a lifting gas in balloons and airships, and as a coolant in rocket engines.
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