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Re:Are we really running out of helium? by bsder on Tuesday February 24, 2015 @02:22PM (#9102879)
100lb of helium is a LOT more helium, no?
Re:Are we really running out of helium? by spott on Tuesday February 24, 2015 @02:50PM (#9103041)
by what measure? 100lb of helium is exactly the same by weight as a 100lb of propane. By volume, in a cylinder, it is approximately the same (I believe).

By number of atoms, it is much more (a factor of 10 or so).

Re:Are we really running out of helium? by bsder on Tuesday February 24, 2015 @03:19PM (#9103219)
Weight is the same, but because the number of atoms is so much higher isn't the pressure a lot higher? PV=nRT and all that?

I presume the leakage loss in storage also raises the price of Helium. People buy propane just-in-case knowing they can store it forever while helium is a "buy it before you use it" kind of thing.