Facts on Hydrogen
Because each atom of hydrogen contains just one proton and one electron, hydrogen is the simplest of all the chemical elements. Hydrogen is the most abundant gas in the entire universe, making up about 75 percent of the universe, according to New World Encyclopedia. Hydrogen easily combines with other elements forming compounds such as water, table sugar, hydrochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide. All humans take in hydrogen each day, whether it's the water they drink or the foods consumed.
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Hydrogen in the Periodic Table
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Hydrogen is placed in the first row (Period 1) and the first column (Group 1) of the Periodic Table, which is an arrangement of chemical elements grouped by similar structures and properties. Hydrogen has a symbol of "H" and is the lightest of all the elements in the Period Table. In fact, hydrogen is one-14th as heavy as air, causing it to rise in the Earth's atmosphere.
Hydrogen is a Nonmetal
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Because it's a nonmetal, hydrogen isn't able to easily conduct heat or electricity and it doesn't reflect light. As a nonmetallic element, hydrogen is extremely brittle and unable to be rolled or pounded into sheets. Also, as a nonmetal, hydrogen can exit in either gases as oxygen or solids such as carbon.
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Sources of Hydrogen
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Hydrogen can either be steam reformed from another substance or separated from water. Reforming involves taking a hydrocarbon such as alcohol or fuel and removing the hydrogen atoms to get hydrogen. The process of obtaining hydrogen from water is called electrolysis and involves breaking down molecules into smaller portions using an electric current. In other words through electrolysis water is split, using electricity to obtain hydrogen and oxygen.
Uses of Hydrogen
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Ammonia production is hydrogen's most important use. Hydrogen is used in immense quantities in petroleum and chemical industries. Food industries use hydrogen for hydrogenating oils or fats so margarine can be produced from vegetable oil. It's used in producing methanol, in addition to hydrochloric acid. Hydrogen also serves as a reduction agent for metal ores. What's more, because of its thermal conductivity, hydrogen is used to cool rotors in electric power generators, as well as used as an industrial cleaner.
Considerations and Warning
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Some of hydrogen's specific properties must be considered when working with this element. For example, hydrogen is flammable and can cause explosions and fires. Because of its molecules are small, it leaks and is easily ignited. It has a colorless flame and burns quickly.
History
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Long before hydrogen was considered an element, scientists had been producing it. Hydrogen was produced as a gas by an English scientist, Robert Boyle in 1671, while Boyle was experimenting with iron and acids. However, it was in 1766 that hydrogen was first acknowledged as a separate element by Henry Cavendish, another English scientist.
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