HYDROGEN
Hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant element in the
universe [70% of the total mass of the universe].
It was named ‘inflammable air’. Lavoisier gave it the name
hydrogen [Greek: Hydra = water, gennas = producer]. It occurs in a
free state as well as in a combined state.
Position of Hydrogen in the Periodic Table
Hydrogen resembles alkali metals (group 1) as well as halogens
(group 17). At the same time, it differs from both in certain
characteristics. That is why hydrogen is called “rogue element”.
However, it has been placed in group 1 based on its configuration
1s1, which is the basis of modern classification of elements.
Isotopes of Hydrogen
Hydrogen exists in the form of three isotopes:
ISOTOPES FORMULA ATOMIC ATOMIC DENSITY
NO. MASS
1. Protium 𝟏 1 1 0.09
𝟏𝐇 or H
2. Deuterium 𝟐 1 2 0.18
𝟏𝐇 or D
3. Tritium 𝟑 1 3 0.27
𝟏𝐇 or T
Dihydrogen [H2]
LAB METHOD
COMMERCIAL METHOD
Physical Properties of Dihydrogen
Dihydrogen is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, combustible gas. It
is lighter than air and insoluble in water. It is neutral to litmus.
Chemical Properties of Dihydrogen
(i) Reactivity: The relative inertness of dihydrogen in the room
temperature is because of its high enthalpy of H—H bond i.e.
high bond dissociation energy. So its reactions take place under
specific conditions only (at high temperature).
(ii) Action with non-metals:
(iii) Reaction with metals: Here H 2 acts as oxidising agent
(iv) Reducing action of dihydrogen:
(v) Reactions with metal ions and metal oxides:
(vi) Reaction with organic compounds:
Uses of Dihydrogen:
1. It is used in the manufacture of CH3OH.
2. It produces temperatures of 2850°C and oxy-atomic
hydrogen flame produces a temperature of 4000°C, so it is
used in oxy-hydrogen flame.
3. The largest single use of H2 is in the synthesis of NH3 which
is used in the manufacture of HNO3 and fertilizers.
4. Liquid hydrogen mixed with liquid oxygen is used as rocket fuel
in space research.
5. H2 is used as a reducing agent in extraction of metals.
6. H2 is used in fuel cell for generating electrical energy.
7. Hydrogen is used in the manufacture of synthetic petrol. (By
heating H 2 with coal and heavy oils under very high pressure
in the presence of catalyst.)
8. It is use for the preparation of metal hydrides, hydrogen
chloride.
9. It is used in metallurgical processes to reduce heavy metal
oxides to metals.
10. Atomic hydrogen and oxy hydrogen torches find use for cutting
and welding purposes.
Water
Water is the most abundant and widely distributed on the earth.
Human body has about 65% and some plants have as much as
95% H2O. It occurs in all three physical states. H2O is a covalent
molecule in which oxygen is sp3 -hybridised. It has bent structure.
Physical Properties of Water
1. Water is a colourless, odourless, tasteless liquid. It has
abnormally high b.p., f.p., heat of vaporisation due to hydrogen
bonding.
2. Pure water is not a good conductor so it is made conductor by
adding small amount of acid or alkali.
3. Density of ice (which is mass per unit volume) is lesser than
that of water and it floats over water.
4. Water has a maximum density at 4°C. This property of
maximum density at 277 K helps aquatic animals to survive
during winter months.
5. Water is a highly polar solvent with high dielectric constant
78.39. It interacts with polar or ionic substances effectively
with the release of considerable amount of energy due to ion
dipole interaction. The dissolution of covalent compounds like
urea, glucose and C2H5OH, etc is due to the tendency of these
molecules to form hydrogen bond with water.
Chemical Properties of Water
1. Water is amphoteric in nature.
2. In redox reactions, water reacts with both metals and non-
metals.
3. Hydrates formation: From aqueous solutions many salts can be
crystallised as hydrated salts. Such as association of water is
of different types.
4. Hydrolysis: Due to high dielectric constant, it has very string
tendency to hydrolyse. It dissolve many ionic compounds.
Soft and Hard Water
The water which produces large amounts of lather with soap is
known as soft water and which forms scum with soap is known as
hard water.
Types of Hardness of Water
(i) Temporary hardness is due to the presence of bicarbonates of
calcium and magnesium.
(ii) Permanent hardness is due to the presence of soluble salts of
calcium and magnesium.
Removal of Temporary Hardness:
(i) By boiling the soluble bicarbonates are converted into insoluble
carbonates.
(ii) By Clark’s process by adding lime water or milk of lime.
Removal of Permanent Hardness:
(i) By adding washing soda, The calcium or magnesium salts are
precipitated as carbonates.
(ii) Calgon’s process Calgon is sodium hexa metaphosphate
(Na6P6O18). This calgon when added to hard water form
soluble complex.
(iii) Anion exchange resins are also big molecules and can exchange
anions. They contain an amino group.
Hydrogen Peroxide
It is an important compound used in pollution control treatment of
domestic and industrial effluents.
Methods of Preparation:
Physical Properties:
(i) In the pure state, H2O2 is almost colurless (very pale blue)
liquid. (ii) it is miscible with water in all proportions and forms a
hydrate H2O2, H2O2.
Structure:
Chemical Properties of H2O2:
(i) Acidic nature It is weakly acidic in nature and pure hydrogen
peroxide turns blue litmus red.
(ii) Oxidising agent It acts as a strong oxidising agent in acidic as
well as in basic medium.
(iii) Reducing agent:
(a) In acidic medium
(b) In basic medium
(iv) Bleaching properties Its bleaching action is due to oxidation by
atomic oxygen and permanent.
Uses:
It is used as a bleaching agent, disinfectant, source of power
(90% H2O2) as fuel in submarines, rockets and helicopters), in
restoration of old paintings in which lead oxide is used as white
paint.
30% H2O2 is called perhydrol which is used as an antiseptic and
germicide for washing wounds, teeth and ears. (Volume strength is
100 and molarity is 8.8)
Heavy Water (D2O):
It was discovered by Urey in 1932. It can be prepared by
exhaustive Heavy Water [D2O] electrolysis of ordinary water using
nickel electrodes. It is colourless, odourless, tasteless liquid.
Chemical Reactions of Heavy Water:
Hydrogen Economy:
• Hydrogen Economy: Utilizes liquid hydrogen as an alternative
energy source, involving production, transport, and storage of
hydrogen in liquid or gaseous forms.
• Production Methods: Large-scale hydrogen can be produced via
water electrolysis or thermochemical reaction cycles.
• Storage Solutions: Hydrogen can be stored in vacuum-insulated
cryogenic tanks or as interstitial hydrides in metals/alloys, such
as iron-titanium.
• Advantages of Hydrogen Fuel: Non-polluting and releases a
large amount of energy upon combustion.
• Photohydrogen: A renewable energy source generated from
sunlight by bacteria or algae.
