| It’s Simple! Hydrogen is the simplest, lightest
element in the universe. It is made up of a single proton with one electron. Because of its simplicity, it is believed by
some that hydrogen is the root of all elements.
It’s Light! When hydrogen escapes into the atmosphere, it is so light
that it scatters immediately upward in the air (it’s 14 times lighter than air). This means that a hydrogen spill won’t
pool on the ground, pollute groundwater, or soak into clothing—it removes itself!
It’s Everywhere! Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe,
making up more that 90% of all matter. On Earth, it is the third most abundant element in the Earth’s surface, found
in water and all organic matter.
What’s Its Nature? In its normal
gaseous state, hydrogen is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and is nontoxic, which makes it different from every other common
fuel we use.
What Happens When Hydrogen Burns? Hydrogen burns readily with oxygen, releasing
considerable energy as heat and producing only water as exhaust. When hydrogen burns in air (which is mostly nitrogen), some
oxides of nitrogen (NOx, contributors to smog and acid rain) can be formed, but much fewer pollutants are formed than when
normal hydrocarbon fuels such as gasoline and diesel are burned. Because no carbon is involved, using hydrogen fuel eliminates
carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and does not contribute to global warming.
Refrences:
http://www.hydrogennow.org/Facts/WhatIsHydrogen.htm |
