As we have learned, it is the most common element in the Universe, but as Hydrogen is highly a reactive element; thus, it is not found in the free state.

Hydrogen can be found in:

• Water
• Petrol, natural gas, and other fuels.
• Stars
• Carbohydrates, Vitamins, etc.

In terms of properties, Hydrogen is a colorless, tasteless, odorless, and highly combustible gas. It is so minute that 5 billion molecules of Hydrogen can fit the head of one paper pin!

Chemical Properties of Hydrogen

1. Hydrogen is a highly flammable gas. It can explode if mixed with chlorine (5-95%). The spark, heat, or sunlight can further explode the mixture. Burning Hydrogen is dangerous; therefore, a flame detector is necessary to detect such dangers.
2. It burns with oxygen to form water (H20).
3. It has a melting point of −259.16°C, −434.49°F, 13.99 K.

Physical Properties of Hydrogen

1. Hydrogen consists of one proton. Hence, it is the smallest chemical element.
2. It is the lightest element. It has a mean relative atomic mass of 1.0079 AMU.
3. It is the most abundant chemical substance in the Universe.
4. Monoatomic Hydrogen is rarely found on Earth.
5. It is present in almost all living things and water.
6. It is colorless, smell-less, and has the lowest density of all.

As we cannot find it in a free-state, a need to prepare it artificially arises. Hydrogen can be prepared in two ways: 

• Preparation of hydrogen gas in a laboratory
• Preparation of hydrogen gas commercially

Preparation of Hydrogen in the Laboratory

The preparation of Hydrogen in the laboratory results in a small amount of Hydrogen. The most common method is reacting a metal with acid. For this purpose, mostly Zinc (Zn) is used. The below reaction shows the preference of Zinc as the metal to be used.

Zn+HCL⇒H₂+ZnCl₂

Zinc reacts with any acid. As a result, Zinc replaces acid from Hydrogen to any salt and releases hydrogen gas.

Zn(s)+2NaOH(aq)+2H2O(l)→Na2Zn(OH)4(aq)+H2(g).

Zinc reacts with any alkaline. As a result, it replaces Hydrogen from Alkaline, and a salt is formed and releases hydrogen gas.

Preparation of Hydrogen Commercially

In this mode of Hydrogen production, a large amount of Hydrogen is produced. There are different ways by which you can produce Hydrogen commercially, namely:

• Electrolysis of water
• Non-electrolytic
• Passing Steam over Hydro-carbons

The most prominent of the methods is the electrolysis of water. Let us read about it in brief.

It explains the preparation of Hydrogen from water electrodes. Hydrogen is produced by electrolysis of water in the presence of Platinum electrodes using traces of either acids or Bases.

2 H2O(l) → 2 H2(g) + O2(g)

The Bosch’s Process is named after the German chemist Carl Bosch. Bosch’s process is used to prepare Hydrogen.

Bosch’s process includes water gas being mixed with twice the volume of steam passed through catalyst Fe2O3, at 773 K, in the presence of promoter Cr2O3 or ThO2. It gives CO2 and H2 as a result.

CO2 is dissolved in water and is removed, leaving undissolved H2. It is a chemical reaction between Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Hydrogen (H) to produce elemental carbon (graphite), water, and a 10% result of invested heat.

• Use of iron as a catalyst.
• The temperature of 530-730 degrees Celsius.
• CO2(g) + 2 H2(g) → C(s) + 2 H2O(g)
• The reaction produces 2.3×103 joules for each gram of carbon dioxide (CO2) reacted at 650 °C.

• Bosch’s process is a method to remove carbon dioxide and generate clean water aboard a space station.
• It is used to produce graphite.
• The research is going on to use Bosch’s process for maintaining space station life support.

Hydrogen comes first in the periodic table and has a significant role in our daily lives. Although it is available in abundance, we can find Hydrogen in animal tissues, water, stars, etc. but not in a free state due to its chemical properties. So, we have to prepare it artificially. As we have learned, Hydrogen can be prepared using different methods like reacting Zinc with any metal or alkali, electrolysis of water, and more.

1. Why is Hydrogen 1 in the periodic table?
2. The atomic number signifies the number of protons in an atom’s nucleus. The atomic number of Hydrogen is one because all hydrogen atoms contain one proton. That is why Hydrogen is 1 in the periodic table.
3. What is lighter air or Hydrogen?
4. Hydrogen is lighter than air.
5. What is reduction?
6. The removal of Hydrogen from a substance is termed reduction.
7. How to liquify Hydrogen gas?
8. Due to its physical properties, Hydrogen is an almost permanent gas. It only liquefies at very low temperatures (below –253°C).
9. Can Hydrogen be used as a fuel?
10. Hydrogen has a high heat of combustion. Due to this reason, it can be used as fuel.