Hydrogen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Appearance | Colorless gas | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Standard atomic weight Ar°(H) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[1.00784, 1.00811][1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hydrogen in the periodic table | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Atomic number (Z) | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Group | group 1: hydrogen and alkali metals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Period | period 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Block | s-block | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Electron configuration | 1s1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Electrons per shell | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Physical properties | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Phase at STP | gas | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Melting point | (H 2) 13.99 K (−259.16 °C, −434.49 °F) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Boiling point | (H 2) 20.271 K (−252.879 °C, −423.182 °F) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Density (at STP) | 0.08988 g/L | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
when liquid (at m.p.) | 0.07 g/cm3 (solid: 0.0763 g/cm3)[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
when liquid (at b.p.) | 0.07099 g/cm3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Triple point | 13.8033 K, 7.041 kPa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Critical point | 32.938 K, 1.2858 MPa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Heat of fusion | (H 2) 0.117 kJ/mol | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Heat of vaporization | (H 2) 0.904 kJ/mol | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Molar heat capacity | (H 2) 28.836 J/(mol·K) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vapor pressure
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Atomic properties | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Oxidation states | −1, 0, +1 (an amphoteric oxide) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Electronegativity | Pauling scale: 2.20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ionization energies |
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Covalent radius | 31±5 pm | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Van der Waals radius | 120 pm | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spectral lines of hydrogen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other properties | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Natural occurrence | primordial | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crystal structure | hexagonal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Speed of sound | 1310 m/s (gas, 27 °C) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thermal conductivity | 0.1805 W/(m⋅K) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Magnetic ordering | diamagnetic[3] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Molar magnetic susceptibility | −3.98×10−6 cm3/mol (298 K)[4] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
CAS Number | 12385-13-6 1333-74-0 (H 2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
History | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Discovery | Henry Cavendish[5][6] (1766) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Named by | Antoine Lavoisier[7] (1783) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Isotopes of hydrogen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Hydrogen is a chemical element. It is the simplest element and the first in the periodic table. It has the symbol H and atomic number 1. Hydrogen also has a standard atomic weight of 1.008. This makes it the lightest element. Hydrogen is a gas at 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit) at standard atmosphere (and in many other situations). When hydrogen is in the form of hydrogen gas, then each hydrogen molecule has two hydrogen atoms.
In standard conditions, hydrogen is a diatomic gas with the formula H
2, or dihydrogen.[8] In this state, hydrogen is also called hydrogen gas or molecular hydrogen. Hydrogen has no color, smell, or taste.[9] Hydrogen is not toxic and is very combustible.[8]
Hydrogen is the most common chemical element in the universe. Hydrogen is almost 75% of all normal (baryonic) matter by mass.[10] Most stars are made of mostly hydrogen. The hydrogen in the stars are in a plasma state. On Earth, hydrogen is seen in water and organic compounds. Hydrogen's most common isotope has one proton and no neutrons. This isotope also has one electron orbiting around it.
Hydrogen is usually nonmetallic and can form covalent bonds with most nonmetals. These covalent bonds can create molecules such as water and other organic substances. Hydrogen is the main part of acid–base reactions. These reactions exchange protons in soluble molecules. In ionic compounds, ions can either be anions or cations. Hydrogen anions are negatively charged and are called hydrides. Hydrogen cations are positively charged and are written as H+
. Cations are also called protons (symbol p), because they are only made of a proton and nothing else.
Hydrogen gas was first made artificially in the 1700s. Henry Cavendish identified hydrogen gas as a distinct substance between 1766 and 1781.
Most hydrogen production is from steam reforming natural gas. Hydrogen has many industrial uses. Hydrogen can be used to process fossil fuels, hydrocrack, and produce ammonia.