Hydrogen is the simplest chemical element in the universe since it only consists of one electron and one proton, although it is also the most abundant. It is found mainly in the gaseous form (H2) in stars and planets. In addition, it appears attached to other elements, such as oxygen, giving rise to water, H2o.
It was T. von Hohenheim (1492-1541) who first described H2. He obtained it artificially through the mixture of metals with strong acids. However, he was not aware that the flammable gas that had formed from these reactions was made up of a new chemical element, hydrogen.
In 1671, Robert Boyle rediscovered and described the reaction between iron filings and dilute acids, generating hydrogen gas. However, it was not until 1766 that this element was officially discovered by Henry Cavendish.
Hydrogen: chemical and physical properties
Hydrogen is a tasteless, odorless, and colorless gas at room temperature. There is something very curious about it, and that is that it is about 14 times less heavy than air. The molecule consists of two hydrogen atoms (H2) linked by a covalent bond.
One of the most relevant properties of this chemical element is its reducing power . When exposed to high temperatures, it reacts with some oxides reducing them.
What is hydrogen used for?
Hydrogen has a wide range of uses today. It is used for the processing of fossil fuels , as well as to produce ammonia, a product widely used in the field of cleaning.
It is also used as a hydrogenating agent to produce methanol and convert unsaturated fats and oils into saturated fats and oils.
To all this we must add that tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen , is generated in nuclear reactions. It can be used to make hydrogen bombs, and acts as a source of radiation in luminous paints.
We must not forget one of the main uses of hydrogen: as a rotor coolant in electric generators . It can also be used to create water and in the production of hydrochloric acid.
And finally, in the gaseous state, it is used as a shielding gas in atomic hydrogen welding .
