Contents

1. Introduction
2. Discovery/History
3. Properties
4. Uses

Introduction to "H"

Hydrogen is the most common element in the Universe. It makes up stars, molecular clouds, and many other compounds. Hydrogen has three natural isotopes: Protium (Normal Hydrgen), Deuterium (Heavy Hydrogen), and Tritium (which is very rare). Hydrogen is "lighter than air". Messing around with Hydrogen can be a lot of 25Kfun!

Discovery

Hydrogen was first discovered by Henry Cavendish in 1776. He was a British scientist famous for his discovery of hydrogen.

Cavendish noticed that a gas was produced when zinc or iron was dropped into an acid. He called this gas "inflammable air". Which is what we now call hydrogen. Using his exacting experimental skills, Henry Cavendish was the first person to distinguish hydrogen from ordinary air. He also was the first to investigate its specific properties. Cavendish, like many before him, noticed that a gas was produced when zinc or iron was dropped into an acid. He called this gas "inflammable air" (known today as hydrogen). Using his exacting experimental skills, Cavendish was the first to distinguish this inflammable air from ordinary air and to investigate its specific properties. He presented a paper about his findings in 1766.

Properties

Hydrogen...

• is a colorless, odorless, gas.
• reacts with almost every element, except ones like the noble elements.
• can't be substituted for oxygen to breathe. Basically, it doesn't help people breathe, but its not poisonous to breathe.
• When Hydrogen is breathed in mixed with some air for a short time, it weakens and raises the pitch of a person's voice
• is a better conducter of heat than other gases.
• forms compounds with a lot of diffent elements. Mostly, the compounds are created by direct contact.

Uses

Hydrogen is used...

• in the refining of pertrolium.
• in the production of hydrocarbons from coal.
• to fill balloons and airships. (It is the least dense gas known.)
• in the Synthesis of ammonia.
• as a fuel.
• Hydrogen Peroxide

Here is a video showing how to make hydrogen gas out of aluminium and acid.