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I thought hydrogen was the smallest gas, not helium.
by zik 8y ago
I thought hydrogen was the smallest gas, not helium.
- Wingman4l7 8y agoDepends on your definition of smaller, but apparently it's not clear-cut: https://www.quora.com/Which-element-is-bigger-an-atom-of-hydrogen-or-of-helium https://www.quora.com/Which-element-is-bigger-an-atom-of-hyd...
- chopin 8y agoHydrogen normally comes as a molecule (H2), not an atom.
- garmaine 8y agoCorrect, but also just as importantly the He atom has both a higher nuclear charge and a full valence shell, which pulls the electrons in more tightly. I’d have to look it up but I believe a single He is even smaller than atomic hydrogen or at least comparable. Edit: looked it up and yes, helium is smaller than atomic hydrogen.