Pure hydrogen is less dense than pure helium. Why does it have a higher melting point?
In: Chemistry
Imagine that atoms are hyperactive kids and like to run around and play. This is what atoms are like in gas state, they roam and expand to the edge of how you possibly limit them. To turn them into liquid you need the atoms to stick close to each other and stop moving so damn much. So how do you make the kids stick together instead of running around? You can grab them one by one, but they’ll just keep slipping away and run. To guarantee it, you need to force them, and a way to force them is to really lower the room’s temperature. When the kids will feel that it’s cold, they’ll realize at some point that a good way to stay warm is to stick really close to each other and still move every now and then and switch places, but not move away again because it’s too cold. This is what atoms are like in liquid state.
Now imagine that those kids are really snobby kids that don’t get along well with each other and prefer to keep their safe distance. Like some stereotypical noble fancy kids. Noble gas atoms. If you use the same method as in the previous paragraph, they might still get closer together but you’re gonna need to make the room much, much colder to convince them that their need to stick together is stronger than their will to be on their own.
Helium is a noble gas, and hydrogen is not. To convince the helium, snobby atoms to get along and stick together, you’re gonna need a far more dire situation that you would in the case of the hydrogen, non-snobby atoms.
**Disclaimer: This is a metaphor only. I strongly urge you not to physically freeze your kids when they’re energetic.**
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