Hydrogen  [ Return towards  Other gases  ]

The Hydrogen atom is the simplest chemical element: it is made up of just one proton and one electron. Hydrogen is also the most abundant element in the Universe since it represents 75% of all matter in terms of mass. It is the main component of the Sun and of most stars. In the gaseous state, its volume only accounts for 0.55 ppm of the Earth’s atmosphere because, as the lightest gas, it is not retained by the Earth’s gravity.

Hydrogen was discovered in 1765 by Henry Cavendish.

More about the history of hydrogen

Hydrogen is mainly produced through natural gas reforming. This refers to the decomposition of hydrocarbons, made of Hydrogen and carbon, using steam in the presence of a catalyst.

It can also be produced through water electrolysis, water molecules being made of one Oxygen atom and two Hydrogen atoms. An electrical current is used to separate the atoms and produce both gaseous Hydrogen and Oxygen.

Other techniques are under research in laboratories: microscopic algae using the Sun’s energy to transform water, high temperature electrolysis, thermochemical decomposition, etc.

More about hydrogen production

At normal temperature and pressure, Hydrogen is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas.

It is extremely light and reacts easily with other chemical elements. It is therefore used as a reagent in chemical industries, especially for plastics and nylon manufacturing.

Its reaction with Oxygen produces energy and has the advantage of forming only water. Fuel cell technology, which allows producing clean electricity, relies on this property.

It is also used for the desulphurization of fuels, which prevents the formation of Sulfur dioxide when used.

Discover the various applications of Hydrogen

More about this gas: its physical-chemical properties