- The atomic number 1 signifies that a hydrogen atom consists of just one proton and one electron. It was first recognized as a distinct element in 1766 by Henry Cavendish, but scientists had been unknowingly producing it for at least 100 years previously. Hydrogen at room temperature exists in the form of a gas. It is highly volatile, which means it is very combustible.
- One of the most important roles hydrogen plays for life on Earth is as an essential part of water. The "H" in H20 stands for hydrogen. Each molecule of water contains two atoms of hydrogen. The interaction between hydrogen and oxygen is what gives water its unique properties. Water molecules have a slightly positive charge where the hydrogen atoms are bonded. This makes water the great solvent that it is and causes water to adhere to itself, which creates its surface tension.
- Hydrogen is the raw fuel that literally powers the stars. The light and heat coming from the sun are produced by the fusion of hydrogen atoms into helium. On a smaller scale, the volatility of hydrogen makes it a powerful fuel in rockets when cooled to liquid form and combined with liquid oxygen. Research in making liquid hydrogen fuel cells continues to be one possibility for future low-emission vehicles.
- Hydrogen is also useful in a variety of industrial processes. If you've ever had margarine or peanut butter, you've eaten a hydrogenated fat. Hydrogen is added to unsaturated fats to make them remain solid at room temperature. Hydrogen, combined with nitrogen, is also used to make ammonia, which is primarily used for fertilizer. It can also be combined with other elements to create acids, such as hydrochloric acid, which is a combination of hydrogen and chlorine.
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