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From: jlg@lanl.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.misc,net.physics
Subject: Re: Hydrogen (isn't flammible?!?)
Message-ID: <23890@lanl.ARPA>
Date: Fri, 29-Mar-85 18:14:39 EST
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Posted: Fri Mar 29 18:14:39 1985
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Xref: watmath net.misc:7734 net.physics:2375

> The Hindenburg used helium instead of hydrogen. Helium is
> considerable more flammable. Germany had used it because
> there was an embargo of hydrogen against it.

You obviously have hydrogen and helium confused.  Hydrogen is the most
common element in the universe and chemically reacts with lots of stuff.
Helium is the second most common element in the universe but it is
chemically inert.  As a result, hydrogen is common on Earth but helium
doesn't combine with anything and, being lighter than air, escapes the
atmosphere if it is released into the environment.  The world's main source
of helium is the U.S. and we embargoed it as a military commodity in the
late thirties.  Since the Germans didn't have much helium, they used
hydrogen for their airships.

J. Giles