• xavier666@lemm.ee
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    4 days ago

    (H₂) molecules are so small that they can permeate most materials, such as steel

    Okay, I knew from texts books that H2 is small but I never thought of the real-life consequences of it being so small. Then theoretically, Helium should also be “leaky”, right?

    • MysteriousSophon21@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      Yep, helium is even worse for leaking! It’s actually the smallest noble gas and can escape through tiny pores that even hydrogen can’t fit through. Thats why helium balloons deflate faster than air balloons - the atoms literally seep through the balloon material.

      • stephen01king@lemmy.zip
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        4 days ago

        How does Helium fit through places that Hydrogen can’t even though its bigger? Is it because Hydrogen would react with things along the way while Helium won’t?