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What other properties of helium makes it good for filling airships?
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
It's very light (only hydrogen gas is less dense than helium), it's relatively cheap, and (most importantly) it's not flammable (hydrogen gas is--the Hindenburg was filled with hydrogen gas).
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
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Why balloons are filled with helium?
Filling a balloon with enough helium for flight takes a lot of helium, hot air balloons only use hot air because it only takes a couple of tanks of propane to heat the air, which is much more cost effective than filling the balloon with helium. Airships use helium because they are used to stay in the air for extended periods of time, so it makes sense to pay for the helium to fill it once, rather than the propane to keep the air hot.
Does helium burn or rust?
No. Helium is a noble gas and has a full compliment of electrons in the first 'orbit' of its atoms. This makes it very, very stable and inert. Therefore helium forms no compounds with any other element. As burning in air by definition is the reaction between the substance and oxygen in the air to form an oxide (e.g. charcoal (carbon) burns in air on your barbecue to form carbon dioxide), as helium will not react with oxygen it will not burn. Helium is also lighter than air. Therefore, helium is sometimes used to fill airships to provide a lift. Airships were once filled with hydrogen as hydrogen is also lighter than air, but several disasters happened where the airship caught fire killing the occupants inside- as hydrogen reacts well with the oxygen in the air (even explosively) form hydrogen oxide (water vapour). As helium is so inert,. it is very useful AND safe for such a use nowadays.
What chemical property of helium makes it a better choice than hydrogen for use in airships?
It's very light (only hydrogen gas is less dense than helium), it's relatively cheap, and (most importantly) it's not flammable (hydrogen gas is--the Hindenburg was filled with hydrogen gas).
What makes a helium balloon?
A rubber bladder with helium inside.
Is helium gas a mixture?
No. Helium is an element, which makes it a pure substance.
Is there helium in airships?
Yes. Helium isn't flammable, which makes it the safer option.
Why balloons are filled with helium?
Filling a balloon with enough helium for flight takes a lot of helium, hot air balloons only use hot air because it only takes a couple of tanks of propane to heat the air, which is much more cost effective than filling the balloon with helium. Airships use helium because they are used to stay in the air for extended periods of time, so it makes sense to pay for the helium to fill it once, rather than the propane to keep the air hot.
Does helium burn or rust?
No. Helium is a noble gas and has a full compliment of electrons in the first 'orbit' of its atoms. This makes it very, very stable and inert. Therefore helium forms no compounds with any other element. As burning in air by definition is the reaction between the substance and oxygen in the air to form an oxide (e.g. charcoal (carbon) burns in air on your barbecue to form carbon dioxide), as helium will not react with oxygen it will not burn. Helium is also lighter than air. Therefore, helium is sometimes used to fill airships to provide a lift. Airships were once filled with hydrogen as hydrogen is also lighter than air, but several disasters happened where the airship caught fire killing the occupants inside- as hydrogen reacts well with the oxygen in the air (even explosively) form hydrogen oxide (water vapour). As helium is so inert,. it is very useful AND safe for such a use nowadays.
What chemical property of helium makes it a better choice than hydrogen for use in airships?
It's very light (only hydrogen gas is less dense than helium), it's relatively cheap, and (most importantly) it's not flammable (hydrogen gas is--the Hindenburg was filled with hydrogen gas).
What makes a helium balloon?
A rubber bladder with helium inside.
What property of helim makes it good for filling balloons?
It's Helium. Helium is lighter than the air around us, so it tries to go upward. This makes the balloon float. The other gas lighter than air catches fire easily, so they don't use that. That's the basic definition. Comment if you want the technical one.
Why don't they use hydrogen gas in airships nowadays?
hydrogen is VERY flammable, which makes it an unpleasant choice.
Is helium gas a mixture?
No. Helium is an element, which makes it a pure substance.
What is comstock pie filling?
Comstock pie filling is a brand of pie filling. It makes delicious pies.
Where can helium be found in your house?
Helium makes up about 0.0005% of the earth's atmosphere.
What does helium have in it that makes it float?
Helium is lighter than air. Hence balloons or blimps filled with helium will float.
What are the properties of hydrogen which makes it suitable for filling meteorological balloons?
both helium gas and hydrogen gas are less dense than air and therefore they float in normal air. however hydrogen is also very flammable and so if it is to be used for a balloon be very cautious. the Hindenburg disaster is famous case of a balloon using hydrogen and having disastrous effects.
