Originally Posted by
Da Tinker
Well, it has to do with atomic physics. Helium has two electrons, filling the inner electron shell, which causes it to more stable & smaller. And which is why helium in inert. Hydrogen, with only one electron, does not have a full electron shell, which causes it to be larger and hydrogen to be a very reactive gas.
Chemistry is far from my strong suit, but I thought hydrogen formed naturally as H
2 molecules because of that odd electron.
Are these molecules larger than the naturally stable He ones?
Don't you just love the tangents these threads take?