Helium Shortage
Context:
A severe disruption in the global supply of helium, triggered by the ongoing war in the Middle East and strict trade restrictions through the Gulf of Hormuz, is causing significant alarm in India.
This shortage poses a direct threat to the country's healthcare sector, specifically regarding the rising operational costs of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and the installation of new MRI machines
How is it Extracted?
It is produced commercially by extracting it from natural gas by a process known as cryogenic distillation.
Qatar is the world’s third largest exporter of natural gas after the United States and Russia.
US – Largest holder of helium reserves.
INDIA – Jharkhand has highest reserves.
Scientific Properties of Helium:
While helium is the second most abundant element in the entire universe (surpassed only by hydrogen), it is remarkably rare on Earth.
It is strictly a non-renewable resource.
Due to its extremely low atomic mass, helium easily escapes Earth's gravitational pull, making it incredibly difficult to store naturally within the planet's atmosphere.
Helium is a colourless, tasteless and odourless gas.
With an atomic number of 2, it is the first of the six noble gases in the periodic table and is completely chemically inert, meaning it does not combust or react with other substances.
Crucially, helium has the lowest boiling point among all known elements.
Key Applications of Helium:
Medical Imaging (MRI):
Because of its unique thermal properties and exceptionally low boiling point, liquid helium is irreplaceable for cooling the superconducting magnets used in MRI equipment.
Space Exploration:
Helium's inertness, stability, and light weight make it a critical component in the aerospace industry, where it is prominently used in rockets.
Use of helium in balloons and airships:
Helium is also used as a lifting gas in balloons and airships.
As with any gas whose density differs from that of air, inhaling a small volume of helium temporarily changes the timbre and quality of the human voice.
Green Hydrogen:
In contrast to the non-renewable nature of helium, the similarly light element hydrogen is being harnessed sustainably for energy.
Green hydrogen is produced by splitting water (electrolysis) using renewable energy-powered electrolysers.
It serves as a virtually emission-free, clean-burning molecule essential for decarbonizing heavy industries such as transportation, chemicals, and iron and steel.