helium

Definitions

helio- (sun) + -ium (a standard ending for chemical elements) = 'the sun's element.' It was named for Hēlios, the Greek sun, because it was first detected in the sun's spectrum during the 1868 eclipse — years before anyone found it on Earth.

Why It Means This

Helium is the only element discovered in space before it was found on Earth. In 1868, astronomers analyzing sunlight during a total eclipse saw a bright yellow line that fit no known earthly element. They concluded it came from a new substance in the sun and named it helium, after Hēlios. It took nearly three decades before the gas was isolated on Earth, confirming the sun had revealed it first.

Common Collocations

• 1.helium balloon氦气球
• 2.liquid helium液氦
• 3.helium gas氦气
• 4.fill with helium充氦气
• 5.helium atom氦原子

Example Sentences

• 1.

  We filled the balloons with helium so they would float to the ceiling.

• 2.

  Breathing in helium makes your voice sound high and squeaky.

• 3.

  Liquid helium is used to cool the powerful magnets inside an MRI scanner.