Sentence:  However , the surface temperature gradient can produce erroneous vapor-pressure measurements for the bulk liquid <WSD>helium</WSD> unless precautions are taken to isolate the tube ( which passes through the surface to the vapor pressure bulb ) from the liquid helium surface . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  a very light colorless element that is one of the six inert gasses; the most difficult gas to liquefy; occurs in economically extractable amounts in certain natural gases (as those found in Texas and Kansas)