@sellathechemist@mastodon.social
Post #1779012
2026-03-30 09:07 UTC
@MegaMichelle @Ichinin One of the big advantages of helium is its low molecular mass. It means that the atoms move extremely fast and that makes helium an exceptionally good conductor of heat - so for some applications it's hard to replace. Hydrogen is even more thermally conductive, but has other drawbacks.
As to neon, the destruction by the Russians of the great steelworks in Ukraine included the air liquefaction plants. So other noble gases - neon, krypton, xenon are also pinched.
Replies (1)
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@sellathechemist@mastodon.social 2026-03-30 09:41
@MegaMichelle @Ichinin PS I wasn't clear earlier. The air liquefaction plants in Mariupol' were there to feed oxygen into the steel smelters - the noble gases were therefore an added bonus from the process that increased the value of the process.