LiHe facts for kids

LiHe is a special kind of chemical compound that combines two very light elements: helium and lithium. It's a very cold and light gas. Think of it as a tiny team where one helium atom and one lithium atom stick together.

What is LiHe?

LiHe is short for lithium helide. It's a unique substance because helium usually doesn't like to join with other atoms. But in LiHe, a single helium atom and a single lithium atom form a pair. This pair creates a very cold and light gas.

How Do Atoms Stick Together in LiHe?

The atoms in LiHe are held together by something called the van der Waals force. Imagine two tiny magnets that are only a little bit sticky. That's kind of how this force works. It's a very weak attraction, much weaker than the strong bonds found in many other compounds. Because this force is so weak, LiHe only exists at extremely cold temperatures. If it gets warmer, the atoms just float apart.

When Was LiHe Discovered?

Scientists first found LiHe in 2013. It was a big discovery because it showed that helium, which is known for being very unreactive, could actually form a compound with another element. This happens even if it's only under special, super-cold conditions. This helps scientists learn more about how atoms interact.