HYDROGEN

Daryl R. Inamarga
HYDROGEN
 Hydrogen is the first element in the periodic table. In normal
conditions it’s a colourless, odourless and insipid gas, formed by
diatomic molecules, H2. The hydrogen atom, symbol H, is formed
by a nucleus with one unit of positive charge and one electron. Its
atomic number is 1 and its atomic weight 1,00797 g/mol. It’s one
of the main compounds of water and of all organic matter, and it’s
widely spread not only in The Earth but also in the entire Universe.
There are three hydrogen isotopes: protium, mass 1, found in
more than 99,985% of the natural element; deuterium, mass 2,
found in nature in 0.015% approximately, and tritium, mass 3,
which appears in small quantities in nature, but can be artificially
produced by various nuclear reactions.

 It is found in the atmosphere at trace levels. It is synthesized from
hydrocarbons and from water where it constitutes the lightest
fraction of the H2O molecule. Hydrogen gas cannot sustain life.
 It is a gas discovered by Boyle in 1671. French chemist Antoine
Lavoisier named hydrogen from the Greek words for "water
former."
Uses of Hydrogen
 The most important use of hydrogen is the ammonia
synthesis. The use of hydrogen is extending quickly in fuel
refinement, like the breaking down by hydrogen
(hydrocracking), and in sulphur elimination. Huge quantities
of hydrogen are consumed in the catalytic hydrogenation of
unsaturated vegetable oils to obtain solid fat.
Hydrogenation is used in the manufacture of organic
chemical products. Huge quantities of hydrogen are used
as rocket fuels, in combination with oxygen or Fluor, and as
a rocket propellent propelled by nuclear energy.

 Hydrogen can be burned in internal combustion engines.

Hydrogen fuel cells are being looked into as a way to
provide power and research is being conducted on
hydrogen as a possible major future fuel. For instance it can
be converted to and from electricity from bio-fuels, from
and into natural gas and diesel fuel, theoretically with no
emissions of either CO2 or toxic chemicals.

Properties of Hydrogen
 Common hydrogen has a molecular weight of
2,01594 g. As a gas it has a density of 0.071 g/l
at 0ºC and 1 atm. Its relative density, compared
with that of the air, is 0.0695. Hydrogen is the
most flammable of all the known substances.
Hydrogen is slightly more soluble in organic
solvents than in water. Many metals absorb
hydrogen. Hydrogen absorption by steel can
result in brittle steel, which leads to fails in the
chemical process equipment.
 At normal temperature hydrogen is a not very
reactive substance, unless it has been activated
somehow; for instance, by an appropriate
catalyser. At high temperatures it’s highly
reactive.
 Although in general it’s diatomic, molecular hydrogen
dissociates into free atoms at high temperatures.
Atomic hydrogen is a powerful reductive agent, even
at ambient temperature. It reacts with the oxides and
chlorides of many metals, like silver, copper, lead,
bismuth and mercury, to produce free metals. It
reduces some salts to their metallic state, like
nitrates, nitrites and sodium and potassium cyanide. It
reacts with a number of elements, metals and non-
metals, to produce hydrides, like NAH, KH, H2S and
PH3. Atomic hydrogen produces hydrogen peroxide,
H2O2, with oxygen.
 Atomic hydrogen reacts with organic compounds to form
a complex mixture of products; with etilene, C2H4, for
instance, the products are ethane, C2H6, and butane,
C4H10 . The heat released when the hydrogen atoms
recombine to form the hydrogen molecules is used to
obtain high temperatures in atomic hydrogen welding.
 Hydrogen reacts with oxygen to form water and this
reaction is extraordinarily slow at ambient
temperature; but if it’s accelerated by a catalyser, like
platinum, or an electric spark, it’s made with explosive
violence.
Hydrogen Physical Properties


 Colorless
 Highly flammable
 Light in weight
 Density : 0.0899*10 -3 g.cm -3 at 20 °C
 Melting point : - 259.2 °C
 Boiling point :- 252.8 °C
 Pure hydrogen is a gas under normal conditions.
 Hydrogen is diatomic and much lighter than air.
 It has such small mass that it can escape earth's
gravitational pull and fly off into space.
 The gas mixes well with air, explosive mixtures are
easily formed.
 The gas is lighter than air.

Hydrogen Chemical Properties
 Electronegativity according to Pauling : 2.1
 Energy of first ionisation : 1311 kJ.mol -1
 Reacts easily with other chemical substances.
 Hydrogen is slightly more soluble in organic solvents than
in water.
 It does not usually react with other chemicals at room
temperature.
 Two hydrogen molecules (H2) and one oxygen molecule
(O2), combine to form two molecules of water, or H2O.
This reaction releases energy.
 Hydrogen bonds form covalent bonds with each other and
with other atoms.
 In some molecules containing hydrogen, the covalent bond
between one of the hydrogen atoms and another atom is
weak and breaks easily. Compounds made of these
 Hydrogen also forms ionic bonds with some metals,
creating a compound called a hydride.
 Hydrogen can also form a unique bond known as a
hydrogen bond. Hydrogen bonds only form between
hydrogen and the elements oxygen (O), nitrogen (N),
or fluorine (F). Water is a good example of hydrogen
bonding.
 Many metals absorb hydrogen. Hydrogen absorption by
steel can result in brittle steel, which leads to fails in
the chemical process equipment.
 At normal temperature hydrogen is a not very reactive
substance.
 Atomic hydrogen reacts with organic compounds to form
a complex mixture of products.
 Hydrogen reacts with oxygen to form water and this
reaction is extraordinarily slow at ambient
temperature.
 Under extreme pressure hydrogen can actually act like a
metal.
 Heating may cause violent combustion or explosion.
 Reacts violently with air, oxygen, halogens and strong
oxidants causing fire and explosion hazard.
Health effects of hydrogen
 Effects of exposure to hydrogen: Fire: Extremely
flammable. Many reactions may cause fire or
explosion. Explosion: Gas/air mixtures are explosive.
Routes of exposure: The substance can be absorbed
into the body by inhalation. Inhalation: High
concentrations of this gas can cause an oxygen-
deficient environment. Individuals breathing such an
atmosphere may experience symptoms which include
headaches, ringing in ears, dizziness, drowsiness,
unconsciousness, nausea, vomiting and depression of
all the senses. The skin of a victim may have a blue
color. Under some circumstances, death may occur.
Hydrogen is not expected to cause mutagenicity,
embryotoxicity, teratogenicity or reproductive toxicity.
Pre-existing respiratory conditions may be aggravated
by overexposure to hydrogen. Inhalation risk: On loss
of containment, a harmful concentration of this gas in
the air will be reached very quickly.
 Physical dangers: The gas mixes well with air, explosive
mixtures are easily formed. The gas is lighter than air.
 Chemical dangers: Heating may cause violent
combustion or explosion. Reacts violently with air,
oxygen, halogens and strong oxidants causing fire and
explosion hazard. Metal catalysts, such as platinum
and nickel, greatly enhance these reactions.
 High concentrations in the air cause a deficiency of
oxygen with the risk of unconsciousness or death.
Check oxygen content before entering area. No odor
warning if toxic concentrations are present. Measure
hydrogen concentrations with suitable gas detector (a
normal flammable gas detector is not suited for the
purpose).
 First aid: Fire: Shut off supply; if not possible and no risk
to surroundings, let the fire burn itself out; in other
cases extinguish with water spray, powder, carbon
dioxide. Explosion: In case of fire: keep cylinder cool
by spraying with water. Combat fire from a sheltered
position. Inhalation: Fresh air, rest. Artificial respiration
may be needed. Refer for medical attention. Skin:
Refer for medical attention.

Environmental Effects of
Hydrogen
 Hydrogen in the environment: Hydrogen forms 0.15
% of the earth's crust, it is the major constituent
of water. 0.5 ppm of hydrogen H2 and viral
proportions as water vapor are present in the
atmosphere. Hydrogen is also a major component
of biomass, consisting the 14% by weight.
 Environmental stability: hydrogen occurs naturally
in the atmosphere. The gas will be dissipated
rapidly in well-ventilated areas.
 Effect on plants or animals: Any effect on animals
would be related to oxygen deficient
environments. No adverse effect is anticipated to
occur to plant life, except for frost produced in
the presence of rapidly expanding gases.

History

of Hydrogen


 1766 Hydrogen was first identified as a distinct element by
British scientist Henry Cavendish after he evolved hydrogen
gas by reacting zinc metal with hydrochloric acid. In a
demonstration to the Royal Society of London, Cavendish
applied a spark to hydrogen gas yielding water. This
discovery led to his later finding that water (H2O) is made
of hydrogen and oxygen.
 1783 Jacques Alexander Cesar Charles, a French physicist,
launched the first hydrogen balloon flight. Known as
“Charliere,” the unmanned balloon flew to an altitude of
three kilometers. Only three months later, Charles himself
flew in his first manned hydrogen balloon.
 1788 Building on the discoveries of Cavendish, French
chemist Antoine Lavoisier gave hydrogen its name, which
was derived from the Greek words—“hydro” and “genes,”
meaning “water” and “born of.”
1800 English scientists William Nicholson and
Sir Anthony Carlisle discovered that applying
electric current to water produced hydrogen
and oxygen gases. This process was later
termed “electrolysis.”
1838 The fuel cell effect, combining hydrogen
and oxygen gases to produce water and an
electric current, was discovered by Swiss
chemist Christian Friedrich Schoenbein.
1845 Sir William Grove, an English scientist and
judge, demonstrated Schoenbeinʼs discovery
on a practical scale by creating a “gas
battery.” He earned the title “Father of the
Fuel Cell” for his achievement
1874 Jules Verne, an English author,
prophetically examined the potential use of
hydrogen as a fuel in his popular work of
fiction entitled The Mysterious Island.
 Tapos man!
 Sigeh…