2000/12/04 by Shuen-Cheng Hwang, William R. Weltmer · 1 citation
Chemistry · Physics and Astronomy · #Argon #Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research #Atomic physics #Chemistry #Composite material #Helium #Inert gas #Inorganic Fluorides and Related Compounds #Krypton #Materials science #Neon #Physics #Quantum, superfluid, helium dynamics #Xenon
paper · doi:10.1002/0471238961.0701190508230114.a01
openalex publication_date 2000/12/04 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/14
Abstract The helium‐group gases are characterized by completely filled valence electron shells. Helium, argon, and neon are commercially available, but krypton, xenon, and radon are quite rare. Principal uses of commercial helium include those as a lifting gas, as an inert carrier gas, and as a cryogenic refrigerant. Helium‐3 and helium‐4, which are both stable isotopes used in cryogenics, differ significantly in their liquid properties because of quantum mechanical effects. Argon finds use principally as an inert gas in industries ranging from electronic ones to steelmaking. Neon is employed as a filling gas in detection chambers and in light sources from commercial signs to lasers.Sources and properties of these gases are discussed. Production of helium from natural gas, and of argon and neon from air separation plants, is presented.