• stephen01king@lemmy.zip
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    8 hours ago

    How does Helium fit through places that Hydrogen can’t even though its bigger? Is it because Hydrogen would react with things along the way while Helium won’t?

    • gandalf_der_12te@discuss.tchncs.de
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      3 hours ago

      I suspect it’s because the hydrogen molecules are bigger than a single helium atom, which doesn’t form molecules (since it’s a noble gas).

      So the hydrogen molecule only seeps through if it’s oriented right (since the hydrogen molecule is a stick-shaped molecule).

    • Cocodapuf@lemmy.world
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      5 hours ago

      I’m also curious, I thought hydrogen was the worst in this regard.

      I like your theory on hydrogen reacting as it moves through materials.