All the helium in the Universe has been created by the fusion of hydrogen nuclei, either in the early Universe (a minute after the Big Bang) or in stars.
What happens to the Helium? Most stars, after converting a significant portion of their hydrogen to helium undergo an internal change. The internal core collapses, and heats up, until it is hot enough to fuse helium into larger atoms, for instance, by combining three helium atoms into carbon. At this same time, some helium will fuse with that carbon to produce oxygen. Outside the core, in what's called the envelope, there is still enough hydrogen to fuse into more helium. But the core begins fusing heavier nuclei. This, by the way, is the transition from a 'normal' star like our Sun to a Red Giant.
Helium And Hydrogen Similarities
After the red giant phase, the Sun will lose its outer layers leaving behind its helium-rich core (called white dwarf), which will gradually cool over the lifetime of the Universe. In stars more massive than the Sun, after the red giant phase. it becomes essentially a free-for-all for creating heavier and heavier atoms. As soon as the helium in the core runs out, the star collapses again, heats up, and starts fusing carbon and oxygen into larger atoms. If the star is massive enough, this keeps happening until iron is fused. At which point a hotter core still won't lead to fusion. The star collapses, becomes unstable, and POW. Explodes, forming a supernovae and neutron star (or black hole).
Helium is therefore a non-renewable natural resource, the price of which is constantly going up. Background. In spite of the fact that Hydrogen is also produced by various biological processes the atmosphere only contains 0,5 ppm Hydrogen, but as much as 5 ppm of Helium. Even if pure hydrogen gas has a low density and tend to rise. Hydrogen Versus Helium. What deflates faster than a helium balloon? A hydrogen balloon. Even though hydrogen atoms form chemical bonds with each other to become H 2 gas, each hydrogen molecule is still smaller than a single helium atom. This is because normal hydrogen atoms lack neutrons, while each helium atom has two neutrons. Another testimony to the big bang theory is the discovery of the large number of 'light elements' Hydrogen and Helium found in the universe. The amount of helium in particular is the most coincidental to the big bang theory. Most of the other theories suggest a much smaller amount of Helium. Helium to Hydrogen G as chromatography (GC) uses a wide range of gases including helium, hydrogen, and nitrogen as the carrier gas. In the U.S., the most common carrier gas is helium, as it pro-vides good separations, is inert, is readily available, and it is safe to use. In many other countries, helium is less available.
Fusion Of Hydrogen And Helium
Last updated Jan 28, 2019