What is Hydrogen?
Hydrogen in the periodic table
Hydrogen is the first member of the periodic table with the symbol H and atomic number 1. It is the most basic among all the periodic table elements in the universe. It is also the lightest element that presents all the atoms in the universe.
The element hydrogen was discovered by scientist Henry Cavendish in 1786. The chemist Lavoisier gives the name of the element. The name is got from the Greek word “hydro” meaning water.
The valence shell electronic configuration of hydrogen is similar to that of alkali metals. Therefore, it is placed in group 1 or s-block in the periodic table. The properties of hydrogen are very much similar to that of the halogen family which is one electron short to complete the octet of electrons in their valence shells. Therefore, it has characteristics to place with group-17 in the periodic table but in the modern periodic table, it is placed with group 1 or the alkali metals family.
Properties
- Relative atomic mass: 1.008
- State at 20°C: Gas
- Melting point: −259.16°C, 13.99 K
- Boiling point: −252.879°C, 20.271 K
- Density (g/cm3): 0.000082
- CAS number: 133–74–0
- Chem Spider ID: 4515072
Facts About Hydrogen
- It is a colurless and orderless gas molecule that has lost density among all the gases.
- Hydrogen is a clean fuel of the future which is generated from water and returned to water when oxidized.
- It is present in water and almost all the living molecules on our earth.
- It readily bonded with carbon and oxygen atoms.
- Hydrogen is a spotless and non-toxic gas that is safe to use.
- It may be produced from various sources and transported or stored in large amounts.
- The element was artificially produced in the 16th century and named hydrogen for its Greek name ‘water-former’.
Uses of Hydrogen
- Hydrogen is used widely for the synthesis of ammonia in the chemical industry.
- A large amount of hydrogen is used for the catalytic hydrogenation of vegetable oils for the extraction of solid fat.
- It is used in fuel cells for the production of pollution-free sources of energy.
- The combination of hydrogen and oxygen is used for making rocket fuel.
- Hydrogen is burnt as a fuel in internal combustion engines for mechanical work.
- In the glass industry, it is used for making a protective atmosphere for making flat glass sheets.
- In the electronics industry, hydrogen is used as a flushing gas for the production of silicon chips.
References
https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/1/hydrogen
https://www.priyamstudycentre.com/2020/03/hydrogen.html
