Which inert gas was readily available during World War II?

• A. Helium
• B. Krypton
• C. Neon
• D. Argon

Answer: (A)

Helium was readily available during World War II because the United States had developed a substantial, government-managed supply derived from natural gas fields and stored it for military needs. This created reliable access for wartime applications such as weather balloons, airships, and various instrumentation. Neon and krypton are scarce and expensive to produce, making them hard to obtain in large quantities for the war effort. Argon is common in air, but building the infrastructure to separate and distribute it in the quantities required for widespread wartime use lagged behind, so helium stood out as the more readily accessible inert gas during that period.