Uses of Hydrogen

Hydrogen is defined as a chemical element which is represented by the letter H, its atomic mass is equal to 1.00797 and its atomic number is 1. It is the lightest element in the entire periodic table. It is usually represented in molecular form, creating the diatomic gas H2 in the characteristics of normal conditions. It is a colorless gas, flammable, non-metallic, odorless and also insoluble in water.

Due to its varied and different properties, hydrogen clearly cannot belong to any group belonging to the periodic table. Although in most cases it is located in group 1 because it has a single electron in its upper shell or valence shell.

Hydrogen is the most abundant chemical element in visible matter in the universe, constituting 75% of it. In a main sequence, the stars are essentially composed of hydrogen which is in the state of plasma. Elemental hydrogen is rare on the planet and is produced industrially from hydrocarbons such as methane.

Uses of Hydrogen

• Large quantities of hydrogen are needed in the chemical and petroleum industries. An additional application of this element is used in the upgrading and processing of fossil fuels and to produce ammonia. The main consumers of hydrogen in a petrochemical plant require hydrodesulfurization, hydrodealkylation but also hydrocracking.
• Hydrogen is used as a hydrogenating agent, primarily to raise the saturation level of unsaturated oils and fats found in products such as margarine and also in the manufacture of methanol.
• Hydrogen is the source from which hydrochloric acid is made.
• It is used as a reducing agent in metallic ores.
• Hydrogen is used as a reactant but also has other applications in engineering and physics. It is useful as a shielding gas applied in welding methods such as atomic hydrogen welding.
• It is used to cool generators found in power plants because this element has the highest gas thermal conductivity.
• Liquid hydrogen is involved in cryogenic research, particularly in studies of superconductivity.
• Knowing that hydrogen is lighter than air, it has been widely used in the past as a carrier gas in airships and hot air balloons.
• In current applications, hydrogen mixed or pure with nitrogen is used as a tracer gas with which leaks are detected. This gas is known as forming gas.
• General applications of hydrogen can be found in the chemical, automotive, energy, telecommunications and aerospace industries.
• Hydrogen is a licensed food additive that is tested for packaging leaks and other antioxidant properties.
• The rarer isotopes belonging to hydrogen have specific applications. Hydrogen 2 or deuterium is used in nuclear fission as a moderator of slow neutrons and also in the reactions involved in nuclear fusion. Compounds of this isotope have applications in biology and chemistry to study isotopic effects.
• Hydrogen-3, also called tritium, is generated in nuclear reactors and used to produce hydrogen bombs, as a radiation source for luminous paints, and as an isotopic marker for life sciences.

Electron configuration of hydrogen

Knowing that the atomic number of hydrogen is 1, the Electron configuration of this element is the simplest of all, being the following: 1s1.

Hydrogen precautions

Hydrogen presents various life safety hazards such as potential fires and detonations when mixed with air. In its pure, oxygen-free form, it can be asphyxiating.

On the other hand, liquid hydrogen is defined as cryogenic and can produce hazards associated with very low temperature liquids.

The element is dissolved in some metals, may leak and cause adverse effects such as hydrogen embrittlement. Leakage of hydrogen gas in outdoor air environments can cause spontaneous ignition. On the other hand, hydrogen fire is extremely hot, practically invisible and because of this it can cause accidental burns.

Although the interpretation of data from this element is confounded with different phenomena, most of the chemical and physical properties of hydrogen will depend on the amount of orthohydrogen and parahydrogen present. .banner-1-multi-104{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:0px!important;margin-right :0px!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:300px;padding:0;text-align:center!important;}