The two lifting gases historically used in airships are hydrogen and helium. Helium is extensively used for filling balloons as it is a much safer gas than hydrogen. Although hydrogen is twice as buoyant as helium, and would be more effective in lifting an airship off the ground, hydrogen gas is extremely dangerous.
With one exception, which aims to put a freighter in the air, all modern concepts rely on helium as a. Hydrogen is less dense so it has slightly more lift, about 70 pounds per 1000 cubic feet of gas versus 65 for. The most appropriate answer is that helium is chemically less reactive the two most widely used lifting gases are hydrogen and helium helium is used in airships because it is lighter than air.
In contrast to hydrogen, helium does not pose a risk of explosion when exposed to flames or high temperatures, making it a preferred choice for modern airships. In airships, helium is preferred over hydrogen because it is not flammable and has 92.64% of the lifting power of the alternative hydrogen.