Hydrogen : The most common gas

At the forefront of some innovative ways of fuelling road transport and mobile phones. Investigate hydrogen’s properties and applications here.

Hydrogen is an odourless, colourless gas. It is highly flammable and combines readily with oxygen to form water. When hydrogen is mixed with air it forms an explosive mixture that ignites with a single spark. It is such a powerful fuel that the main engines of the space shuttle are fuelled by hydrogen.

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Hydrogen - Properties

Symbol:	H
Atomic number:	1
Relative atomic mass:	1
Electronic configuration:	1s¹
Molecular formula:	H₂
Relative molecular mass:	2
Boiling point:	20 K
Key properties:	Low density and highly flammable, reducing agent.
Some major uses:	Feedstock for chemical production, fuel for fuel cells and rocket engines, removing oxygen during glass making.
Discoverer:	Henry Cavendish (1766)

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Hydrogen - All around us

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. About 93% of all the atoms in the universe are hydrogen atoms. But it is the lightest element, so it forms about 76% of the mass of the universe. Hydrogen is also the most abundant element in the Sun but it only forms 0.14% of the Earth's crust. Water is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen. Water is the most abundant compound on the Earth's surface and covers about two-thirds of it.

The atmosphere only contains a tiny proportion of hydrogen gas, about 1 part per million (0.0001%). However, air contains much more water vapour. In very humid places the air can contain about 6% water vapour, while in a desert it might contain as little as 0.1% water vapour. Industry gets most of its hydrogen from natural gas or steam.

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Hydrogen - Laboratory test

Place a lighted splint into a test tube of hydrogen. The gas ignites with a squeaky pop.

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Hydrogen : The most common gas

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Hydrogen - Properties

Hydrogen - All around us

Hydrogen - Laboratory test

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