Where Is Helium Found On The Periodic Table?

by Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels.
Updated December 06, 2018
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Where is Helium Found On The Periodic Table?

Helium's location on the periodic table of the elements.
Helium's location in the periodic table of the elements. Todd Helmenstine

Helium is the second element on the periodic table. It is located in period 1 and group 18 or 8A on the righthand side of the table. This group contains the noble gases, which are the most chemically inert elements on the periodic table. Each He atom has two protons and usually two neutrons and two electrons.

The Space Between Elements

Helium is separated by space from hydrogen because it has a filled valence electron shell. In the case of helium, the two electrons make the valence shell the only electron shell. The other noble gases in group 18 have 8 electrons in their valence shell.