Experiment 10 Hydrogen Background

Hydrogen is a highly flammable chemical element which occurs in great abundance throughout the universe. In fact, hydrogen makes up approximately 75% of the universe, by volume, and it appears in a very large number of compounds, especially those which make up various organic materials. Many people are familiar with hydrogen as a potential fuel source, thanks to its promotion as a potential alternative fuel, and all of us consume hydrogen every day, in the water we drink and the foods we eat. The atomic number of hydrogen is one, and it is identified by the symbol H on the periodic table. Hydrogen is a unique standalone element, not classified with any other elements. Many scientists think of hydrogen as a kind of elemental building block, since its simple structure is the basis of so many things. The colorless, highly flammable gas has a number of industrial uses, especially in the refining of petroleum products (Smith, 2011). In the laboratory, the properties of hydrogen was discovered, its preparation and the production of hydrogen using the different reactive chemicals.

Procedure I. Sources of Hydrogen a. Action of Less active metals on water A gram of magnesium powder was placed in a test tube. 10 mL of water was added and was noted whether a reaction takes place. If theres no reaction occurred, the mixture was boiled. And the resulting solution was tested with litmus paper. b. Action of metals on acids 3mL of 6 N HCl was placed in each of the five test tubes. i. In the first test tube, a small strip of magnesium ribbon was added. The issuing gas was tested by inverting a dry test tube over the first in order to collect the gas. The inverted test tube was moved sideward and quickly a burning splint was inserted. ii. To the second test tube, a small piece of aluminium was added; to the third, a small clean iron nail was added; to the fourth was a piece of mossy zinc; and to the fifth, was a piece of copper wire. A clean and dry test tube was inverted to each of the reacted substances. The presence of the gas was tested with the burning splint from each inverted test tube. c. Reaction of Metals with different acids

5mL of 6N sulfuric acid was placed in a test tube and a 5mL of 6N nitiric acid in another. To each test tube, a piece of mossy zinc was added and a gas was tested with a burning splint. II. Preparation The apparatus was set up. The thistle tube was made sure that it has touched the bottom of the Erlenmeyer flask. Pieces of mossy zinc (about 5g) were placed in the flask. 2mL of copper(II) sulphate solution was poured through the thistle tube. The connections were made sure were tight. All the flames nearby were put off. The approval of the instructor has gotten before the experiment proceeded. 3 test tubes filled with water were placed to collect the gas. The tubes were provided with stopper. 6N HCl was poured through the thistle tubes until the mossy zinc was covered. When the reaction becomes sluggish, more acid was added. Three test tubes of gases were collected. The test tubes were covered tightly with stopper under water and were placed in the rack with the mouths downwards. The remaining mossy zinc was washed and was returned to the stockroom. III. Properties of Hydrogen Test for Presence of Hydrogen 1. One of the test tubes of hydrogen gas was uncorked and a burning splint was inserted quickly. 2. The stopper of one of the test tubes of hydrogen was removes and was let stand, with mouth up, for 2 seconds. A burning splint was thrust into the test tube. IV. Density of Hydrogen 3. One test tube containing hydrogen gas was taken, and an empty test tube was held and was inverted over it, with the mouths kept of the two test tubes together for one minute. The presences of hydrogen in both test tubes were tested. Data and Results I. Sources of Hydrogen a. Action of active metals on water Sodium reacts with water and begins to melt.

b. Action of less active metals on water

Magnesium powder reacts slowly with water at ordinary temperature. Magnesium powder reacts violently with boiling water. .

c. Reaction of Active metals with different acids Sulphuric acid gives off hydrogen gas

d. Properties of Hydrogen Analysis I. Sources of Hydrogen a. Action of active metals on water Hydrogen gas evolved in the equation: 2Na + 2H2O = 2NaOH + H2 There are two other metals that react with water at ordinary temperature: lithium and potassium Equation: Li2O + H2O = 2Li(OH) and 2K+2H2O = 2KOH + H2 .

b. Action of less active metals on water Mg + 2H2O = Mg(OH)2 + H2 c. Action of metals on acids
Metals which are above hydrogen in the activity series can displace hydrogen from hydrochloric acid such as potassium, sodium. Calcium, zinc, and etc. Metals that are below hydrogen in the activity series cannot displace hydrogen from hydrochloric acid such as lead, copper, etc.

d. Reaction of Active metals with different acids Zn + H2(SO4) = Zn (SO4) + H2 Nitric acid is a strong oxidizing acid Acids that evolve hydrogen when acted upon metals are strong acids such as HCl or H2SO4 also some weak acids such as acetic acid can liberate some hydrogen from reactive metal such Mg

e. Preparation Zn + 2HCl = ZnCl2 +H2 Water displacement was the method used of collecting hydrogen gas

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Hydrogen gas is collected in this manner because hydrogen is lighter than air. First bubbles are allowed to escape because it contains air such as oxygen, etc. The test tubes of hydrogen are kept with their mouths downward, because hydrogen gas is lighter than air, it is easier to collect hydrogen gas in this way.

Properties of Hydrogen Hydrogen is colorless, highly flammable, light in weight, it is diatomic and lighter than air. The relative density of water decreases as the temperature increases. .

Conclusion and Research The presence of hydrogen can be tested through the reactions of different active and inactive metals on water and on different acids. Hydrogen is prepared and collected through the process of water displacement which is based in the experiment. I can also conclude that the hydrogen is colorless, high flammable, and is lighter than air. Hydrogen is the most abundant chemical element found in the entire Universe. Chemically, it exhibits non metallic properties. When at room temperature, it is in gaseous state. It is the smallest and lightest of all elements on the periodic table. Even though elemental hydrogen is rare on the earth, it is a component of many important compounds. It is vital for our life as it is one of the key constituents of water. It is also present in most of the organic compounds. Now, let us have a look on some everyday uses of hydrogen. Hydrogen is an excellent fuel. This is because its calorific value is very high which means that it produces large amount of energy on combustion. Hydrogen fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that produces electricity from hydrogen and oxygen. It is considered as a clean environment friendly fuel as it produces only water vapor as end product. The main uses of hydrogen fuel cells are as power resources for remote locations like submarines, remote weather stations, spacecrafts, etc. Liquid hydrogen is used as fuels in rockets. Deuterium, also known as heavy hydrogen, is an isotope of hydrogen and is used as a fuel in nuclear reactors for nuclear fusion reaction. Due to its light weight, one of the key uses of hydrogen gas is in the balloons. Today, meteorologists use it in meteorological balloons or weather balloons. These balloons carry necessary instruments high up in the air in order to record some vital information related to atmospheric conditions. During World War I, it was used in balloon airships or dirigibles but now it is no longer used as it is highly combustible in nature (Mukherjee, 2010). References: Mukherjee, B (2010). Uses of Hydrogen. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/uses-of-hydrogen.html Smith, S.E. (2011). What is Hydrogen. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-hydrogen.htm