100th Anniversary of the Discovery of Helium in Natural Gas

摘要

December 7, 2005 marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of helium in natural gas by H. P. Cady and D. F. McFarland at the University of Kansas. The work was done in the Chemistry building, Bailey Hall, built in 1900 and designated as a National Historic Chemical Landmark in 2000. An early air liquefier was installed in 1903 and in the same year McFarland used the liquid air to analyze a sample of natural gas that wouldn't burn. He analyzed it as having 71% nitrogen plus the expected methane and residual gas that couldn't be condensed. It took two years to assemble the apparatus that Cady used to see the helium spectrum in the residual gas.This paper includes a discussion of the discoveries related to helium, personal insights into the life and contributions of H. P. Cady, and the evolution of its production.