[Gasification] Gasification Digest, Vol 19, Issue 10

[andrew]

On Sunday 13 January 2008 18:35, Mark Ludlow wrote:
> Once it is released into the
> atmosphere collecting it once again is much more energy intensive
> because of its extremely-low boiling point and its scarcity in the
> lower atmosphere (5ppm).

The helium molecules are so light and unreactive that collisions in 
the upper atmosphere are sufficient to give it escape velocity. It's 
only the fact that it combines readily that prevents us losing 
hydrogen in a similar fashion.

Essentially helium is the result of a two products of radioactive 
decay, an alpha particle and two beta particles, meeting and 
combining to form the element.

AJH