Hydrogen Properties

Definition of Hydrogen
What is the definition of Hydrogen? It is a colorless, highly flammable gaseous element, the lightest of all gases and the most abundant element in the universe. The Physical and Chemical Properties are the characteristics of a substance, like Hydrogen, which distinguishes it from any other substance. Most common substances, like Hydrogen, exist as States of Matter as solids, liquids, gases and plasma.

Refer to the article on Hydrogen Element for additional information and facts about this substance.

Hydrogen Properties - What are the Physical Properties of Hydrogen?
What are the Physical Properties of Hydrogen? The Physical properties of Hydrogen are the characteristics that can be observed without changing the substance into another substance.

Physical properties are usually those that can be observed using our senses such as color, luster, freezing point, boiling point, melting point, density, hardness and odor. The Physical Properties of Hydrogen are as follows:

• 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)
• Odor : 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

Hydrogen Properties - What are the Chemical Properties of Hydrogen?
What are the Chemical Properties of Hydrogen? They are the characteristics that determine how it will react with other substances or change from one substance to another. The better we know the nature of the substance the better we are able to understand it. Chemical properties are only observable during a chemical reaction. Reactions to substances may be brought about by changes brought about by burning, rusting, heating, exploding, tarnishing etc. The Chemical Properties of Hydrogen are as follows:

• 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 (CH₃ OH)
• 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 (HC_l ), sulfuric acid (H₂ SO₄ ), nitric acid (HNO₃ ), acetic acid (HC₂ H₃ O₂ ) and phosphoric acid (H₃ PO₄ )