Where and by what technique was the element helium first discovered?
A) in radioactive rocks, by radioactive measurements of uranium deposits
B) on the Sun, from spectroscopy during a solar eclipse
C) in the laboratory, by examining the spectrum of heated chemicals in a flame
D) in the upper atmosphere of Earth, by studying the spectrum of the aurorae, or northern lights

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Helium was first discovered on the Sun by spectroscopy during a solar eclipse in 1868. The spectral lines of an unknown element were observed, and the element was named helium after the Greek god of the Sun, Helios. It was later discovered on Earth in natural gas deposits.

Where and by What Technique Was the Element Helium First