Hydrogen Properties - What are the physical and Chemical Properties of Hydrogen?
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What are the Physical Properties of Hydrogen? |
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| Color | Colorless |
| Phase | Gas Hydrogen changes from a gas to a liquid at a temperature of -252.77°C (-422.99°F) It changes from a liquid to a solid at a temperature of -259.2°C (-434.6°F) |
| Odour | Hydrogen is an odorless gas |
| Taste | A tasteless gas |
| Density | The lowest of any chemical element, 0.08999 grams per liter - the least dense of all gases |
| Solubility | Slightly soluble in water, alcohol and some other common liquids |
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What are the Chemical Properties of Hydrogen? |
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| Chemical Formula | H Hydrogen gas (H2) |
| Oxidation | It burns in air or oxygen to produce water H2 reacts with every oxidizing element |
| Reactivity with gases | Combining hydrogen and nitrogen at high pressure and temperature produces ammonia (NH3) Combined with carbon monoxide produces methanol (CH3OH) |
| Reactivity with non-metals | It combines readily with non-metals, such as sulfur and phosphorus It combines readily with the halogens which include fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine |
| Flammability | Highly Flammable, a highly combustible diatomic gas |
| Combustion | When mixed with air and with chlorine it can spontaneously explode by spark, heat or sunlight. Example: the destruction of the Hindenburg airship |
| Acid Compounds |
Common acids include Hydrochloric acid (HCl) , Sulphuric acid (H2SO4), Nitric acid (HNO3), acetic acid (HC2H3O2) and phosphoric acid (H3PO4) |
Hydrogen uses
- Commercial fixation of nitrogen from the air in the Haber ammonia process.
- Hydrogenation of fats and oils.
- Methanol production, in hydrodealkylation, hydrocracking, and hydrodesulphurization.
- Rocket fuel.
- Welding.
- Production of hydrochloric acid.
- Reduction of metallic ores.
- Hydrogen reacts with oxygen in a fuel cell, making electricity to run the car. The only waste product of this process is water vapour.