Compare Helium vs Nitrogen: Periodic Table Element Comparison Table and Properties
Compare the elements Helium and Nitrogen on the basis of their properties, attributes and periodic table facts. Compare elements - Helium and Nitrogen comparison table side by side across over 90 properties. All the elements of similar categories show a lot of similarities and differences in their chemical, atomic, physical properties and uses. These similarities and dissimilarities should be known while we study periodic table elements. You can study the detailed comparison between Helium vs Nitrogen with most reliable information about their properties, attributes, facts, uses etc. You can compare He vs N on more than 90 properties like electronegativity, oxidation state, atomic shells, orbital structure, Electronaffinity, physical states, electrical conductivity and many more. This in-depth comparison helps students, educators, researchers, and science enthusiasts understand the differences and similarities between Helium and Nitrogen.
Helium and Nitrogen Comparison
Here's a detailed comparison between Helium (He) and Nitrogen (N), focusing on their position in the periodic table, physical and chemical properties, stability, and uses.
Facts - Basic Element Details
| Name | Helium | Nitrogen |
|---|---|---|
| Atomic Number | 2 | 7 |
| Atomic Symbol | He | N |
| Atomic Weight | 4.002602 | 14.0067 |
| Phase at STP | Gas | Gas |
| Color | Colorless | Colorless |
| Metallic Classification | Noble Gas | Other Nonmetal |
| Group in Periodic Table | group 18 | group 15 |
| Group Name | helium family or neon family | nitrogen family |
| Period in Periodic Table | period 1 | period 2 |
| Block in Periodic Table | p -block | p -block |
| Electronic Configuration | 1s2 | [He] 2s2 2p3 |
| Electronic Shell Structure (Electrons per shell) | 2 | 2, 5 |
| Melting Point | 0 K | 63.05 K |
| Boiling Point | 4.22 K | 77.36 K |
| CAS Number | CAS7440-59-7 | CAS7727-37-9 |
| Neighborhood Elements | Neighborhood Elements of Helium | Neighborhood Elements of Nitrogen |
History
| Parameter | Helium | Nitrogen |
|---|---|---|
| History | The element Helium was discovered by P. Janssen and N. Lockyer in year 1868 in Sweden and United Kingdom. Helium derived its name from the Greek word helios, meaning 'sun'. | The element Nitrogen was discovered by D. Rutherford in year 1772 in United Kingdom. Nitrogen derived its name from the Greek word nitron and '-gen' meaning 'niter-forming'. |
| Discovery | P. Janssen and N. Lockyer (1868) | D. Rutherford (1772) |
| Isolated | W. Ramsay,T. Cleve, and N. Langlet (1895) | D. Rutherford (1772) |
Presence: Abundance in Nature and Around Us
Parts per billion (ppb) by weight / by atoms (1ppb =10^-7 %)
| Property | Helium | Nitrogen |
|---|---|---|
| Abundance in Universe | 230000000 / 72000000 | 1000000 / 90000 |
| Abundance in Sun | 230000000 / 74000000 | 1000000 / 90000 |
| Abundance in Meteorites | - / - | 1400000 / 1400000 |
| Abundance in Earth's Crust | 5.5 / 30 | 20000 / 29000 |
| Abundance in Oceans | 0.0072 / 0.011 | 500 / 220 |
| Abundance in Humans | - / - | 26000000 / 12000000 |
Crystal Structure and Atomic Structure
| Property | Helium | Nitrogen |
|---|---|---|
| Atomic Volume | 22.4136 cm3/mol | 22.4131 cm3/mol |
| Atomic Radius | 31 pm | 56 pm |
| Covalent Radius | 32 pm | 75 pm |
| Van der Waals Radius | 140 pm | 155 pm |
Atomic Spectrum - Spectral Lines | ||
| Emission Spectrum | ![]() | ![]() |
| Absorption Spectrum | ![]() | ![]() |
| Lattice Constant | 424.2, 424.2, 424.2 pm | 386.1, 386.1, 626.5 pm |
| Lattice Angle | π/2, π/2, π/2 | π/2, π/2, 2 π/3 |
| Space Group Name | Fm_ 3m | P63/mmc |
| Space Group Number | 225 | 194 |
| Crystal Structure | Face Centered Cubic ![]() | Simple Hexagonal ![]() |
Atomic and Orbital Properties
| Property | Helium | Nitrogen |
|---|---|---|
| Atomic Number | 2 | 7 |
| Number of Electrons (with no charge) | 2 | 7 |
| Number of Protons | 2 | 7 |
| Mass Number | 4.002602 | 14.0067 |
| Number of Neutrons | 2 | 7 |
| Shell structure (Electrons per energy level) | 2 | 2, 5 |
| Electron Configuration | 1s2 | [He] 2s2 2p3 |
| Valence Electrons | 1s2 | 2s2 2p3 |
| Oxidation State | - | -3, 3, 5 |
| Atomic Term Symbol (Quantum Numbers) | 1S0 | 4S3/2 |
| Shell structure | ![]() | ![]() |
Isotopes and Nuclear Properties
Helium has 2 stable naturally occuring isotopes while Nitrogen has 2 stable naturally occuring isotopes.
| Parameter | Helium | Nitrogen |
|---|---|---|
| Known Isotopes | 3He, 4He, 5He, 6He, 7He, 8He, 9He, 10He | 10N, 11N, 12N, 13N, 14N, 15N, 16N, 17N, 18N, 19N, 20N, 21N, 22N, 23N, 24N, 25N |
| Stable Isotopes | Naturally occurring stable isotopes: 3He, 4He | Naturally occurring stable isotopes: 14N, 15N |
| Neutron Cross Section | 0.007 | 1.91 |
| Neutron Mass Absorption | 0.00001 | 0.0048 |
Chemical Properties: Ionization Energies and electron affinity
| Property | Helium | Nitrogen |
|---|---|---|
| Valence or Valency | 0 | 3 |
| Electronegativity | - | 3.04 Pauling Scale |
| Oxidation State | - | -3, 3, 5 |
| Electron Affinity | 0 kJ/mol | 7 kJ/mol |
| Ionization Energies | 1st: 2372.3 kJ/mol 2nd: 5250.5 kJ/mol | 1st: 1402.3 kJ/mol 2nd: 2856 kJ/mol 3rd: 4578.1 kJ/mol 4th: 7475 kJ/mol 5th: 9444.9 kJ/mol 6th: 53266.6 kJ/mol 7th: 64360 kJ/mol |
Physical Properties
Helium (0.0001785 g/cm³) is less dense than Nitrogen (0.001251 g/cm³). This means that a given volume of Nitrogen will be heavier than the same volume of Helium. Nitrogen is about 600.8 denser than Helium
| Property | Helium | Nitrogen |
|---|---|---|
| Phase at STP | Gas | Gas |
| Color | Colorless | Colorless |
| Density | 0.0001785 g/cm3 | 0.001251 g/cm3 |
| Density (when liquid (at melting point)) | - | - |
| Molar Volume | 22.4136 cm3/mol | 22.4131 cm3/mol |
Mechanical and Hardness Properties
| Property | Helium | Nitrogen |
|---|---|---|
Elastic Properties | ||
| Young Modulus | - | - |
| Shear Modulus | - | - |
| Bulk Modulus | - | - |
| Poisson Ratio | - | - |
Hardness - Tests to Measure of Hardness of Element | ||
| Mohs Hardness | - | - |
| Vickers Hardness | - | - |
| Brinell Hardness | - | - |
Thermal and Electrical Conductivity
| Property | Helium | Nitrogen |
|---|---|---|
Heat and Conduction Properties | ||
| Thermal Conductivity | 0.1513 W/(m K) | 0.02583 W/(m K) |
| Thermal Expansion | - | - |
Electrical Properties | ||
| Electrical Conductivity | - | - |
| Resistivity | - | - |
| Superconducting Point | - | - |
Magnetic and Optical Properties
| Property | Helium | Nitrogen |
|---|---|---|
Magnetic Properties | ||
| Magnetic Type | Diamagnetic | Diamagnetic |
| Curie Point | - | - |
| Mass Magnetic Susceptibility | -5.9e-9 m3/kg | -5.4e-9 m3/kg |
| Molar Magnetic Susceptibility | -2.36e-11 m3/mol | -1.5e-10 m3/mol |
| Volume Magnetic Susceptibility | -1.05e-9 | -6.8e-9 |
Optical Properties | ||
| Refractive Index | 1.000035 | 1.000298 |
Acoustic Properties | ||
| Speed of Sound | 970 m/s | 333.6 m/s |
Thermal Properties - Enthalpies and thermodynamics
| Property | Helium | Nitrogen |
|---|---|---|
| Melting Point | 0 K | 63.05 K |
| Boiling Point | 4.22 K | 77.36 K |
| Critical Temperature | 5.19 K | 126.21 K |
| Superconducting Point | - | - |
Enthalpies | ||
| Heat of Fusion | 0.02 kJ/mol | 0.36 kJ/mol |
| Heat of Vaporization | 0.083 kJ/mol | 2.79 kJ/mol |
| Heat of Combustion | - | - |
Regulatory and Health - Health and Safety Parameters and Guidelines
| Parameter | Helium | Nitrogen |
|---|---|---|
| CAS Number | CAS7440-59-7 | CAS7727-37-9 |
| RTECS Number | RTECSMH6520000 | RTECSQW9700000 |
| DOT Hazard Class | 2.2 | 2.2 |
| DOT Numbers | 1963 | 1977 |
| EU Number | - | - |
| NFPA Fire Rating | 0 | 0 |
| NFPA Health Rating | 1 | 3 |
| NFPA Reactivity Rating | 0 | 0 |
| NFPA Hazards | - | - |
| AutoIgnition Point | - | - |
| Flashpoint | - | - |
Compare Helium and Nitrogen With Other Elements
Compare Helium and Nitrogen with other elements of the periodic table. Explore howHelium and Nitrogen stack up against other elements of the periodic table. Use our interactive comparison tool to analyze 90+ properties across different metals, non-metals, metalloids, and noble gases. Understanding these differences is crucial for applications in engineering, chemistry, electronics, biology, and material science.
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