Hydrogen

Symbol of Hydrogen H
Formula of Hydrogen H2
Valency 1
Atomic Number 1
Atomic Mass 1.00794 amu

Name of the Scientist Contribution

Robert Boyle He first prepared hydrogen gas by treating iron with sulphuric acid
Henry Cavendish He prepared hydrogen gas by the action of dilute hydrochloric acid with zinc.
He also proved that when hydrogen burns in air it forms water.
Lavoisier Named the gas ‘Hydrogen’ means water producer

Physical Properties of Hydrogen Gas

Colour Colourless
Odour & Taste Odourless and Colourless
Physiological Nature Non-poisonous
Density Hydrogen is lighter than air (lightest gas)
Solubility Very slightly soluble in water
Nature Hydrogen is a neutral gas. Don’t change the colour of litmus paper.
 Preparation of Hydrogen gas by electrolysis of Water

➢ What is electrolysis?
Electrolysis is a process in which an electric current is passed through an aqueous solution or a molten state of a compound to
bring about a chemical change.
➢ Preparation of hydrogen gas by the electrolysis of water:

When an electric current is passed through acidulated water , it decomposes into

Hydrogen and Oxygen.

𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐
2H2O 𝐶𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡
→ 2H2 + O2
(Acidulated Water) (Hydrogen) (Oxygen)

➢ Collection :
● Hydrogen gas is collected at the cathode (-ve electrode)
● Oxygen gas is collected at the anode (+ve electrode)
● The ratio of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas thus collected is 2 : 1 by volume.
➢ Confirmation Test for Hydrogen Gas :
If a lighted match stick bring near the mouth of the tube ,which is at negative electrode , the gas burns with a pop sound and
so it is hydrogen gas.
➢ Confirmation Test for Oxygen Gas:
If a glowing matchstick bring near the mouth of the tube Which is at positive electrode , the matchstick gets lighted and so it is
oxygen gas.
➢ Why acidulated water is used to prepare hydrogen gas by the electrolysis of water ?
Pure water is a bad conductor of electricity . When a small amount of acid , alkali,or salt is added to it it conducts electricity.
 Laboratory Preparation of Hydrogen Gas

➢ Hydrogen gas is prepared in the laboratory by the action of dilute hydrochloric acid or dilute sulphuric acid on granulated
zinc.
Zn + H2SO4 → ZnSO4 + H2 (↑)
(Granulated zinc) * (dil. Sulphuric acid) (Zinc Sulphate) (Hydrogen)

Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl2 + H2 (↑)

(Granulated zinc) * (dil. hydrochloric acid) (Zinc Chloride) (Hydrogen)

➢ Why is granulated zinc preferred ?

Granulated zinc contains an impurity , copper , which acts as a positive catalyst for the reaction. That is why granulated zinc is
preferred over pure zinc for laboratory preparation of hydrogen.
➢ Why is conc Sulphuric acid not used in the lab preparation of hydrogen?
Concentrated sulphuric acid is not used in the laboratory preparation of hydrogen because it produces sulphur dioxide gas instead
of hydrogen gas.
➢ Why dilute sulphuric acid / dilute hydrochloric acid is used in the laboratory preparation of hydrogen gas ?
Dilute hydrochloric acid and dilute sulphuric acid do not oxidise hydrogen into water , hence they are preferred for the preparation
of hydrogen gas.
➢ Why is nitric acid not used in the lab preparation of hydrogen?
Or , Nitric acid is not used for preparation of hydrogen gas using active metal. Explain
Nitric acid is not used in the laboratory preparation of hydrogen gas because nitric acid is a strong oxidising agent (even when it is
diluted) , and oxidises hydrogen gas to convert it into water and defeats the purpose.
➢ In laboratory preparation of hydrogen the end of thistle funnel is kept under acid . Why ?
The end of the thistle funnel should be dipped in acid to prevent the escape of gas during the reaction.
➢ Precautions :
1. Apparatus should be air tight.
2. Allow the first few bubbles of hydrogen gas to escape , as they not only contain air , but also form an explosive mixture.
3. Do not bring any flame near the apparatus, since hydrogen is inflammable.
4. The end of the thistle funnel should be dipped in acid to prevent the escape of gas during the reaction.
➢ Collection of hydrogen gas / why hydrogen gas is collected by downward displacement of water ?
Hydrogen is lighter than air and slightly soluble in water. That is why hydrogen is collected by downward displacement of water ,
not by downward displacement of air.
 Industrial Preparation of Hydrogen Gas

BOSCH PROCESS :

Step 1 : Steam is passed over hot coke at 10000C and as a result a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas is formed.
Mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen gasses is known as water gas.
0
1000 𝐶
C + H2O → CO + H2 – Heat
(Carbon) (Water) (Water Gas)
Step 2 : Water gas is mixed with excess of steam and passed over a catalyst ferric oxide (Fe2O3) and a promoter chromium trioxide
(Cr2O3)
𝐹𝑒2𝑂3 / 𝐶𝑟2𝑂7
(CO + H2) + H2O 0 → CO2 + 2H2 + Heat
450 𝐶
(Water Gas) (Steam)
Step 3 : The products are Hydrogen , Carbon -dioxide , and some unreacted Carbon monoxide

● Hydrogen is separated from carbon dioxide by passing the mixture under pressure , in which carbon dioxide gets
dissolved leaving behind hydrogen.
Or,
● Carbon dioxide can separated by passing the mixture of carbon dioxide and hydrogen through caustic potash (KOH)
solution.
2KOH + CO2 → K2CO3 + H2O
● Carbon monoxide can be separated by passing the gaseous mixture through ammoniacal cuprous chloride , in which
carbon monoxide dissolves, leaving behind hydrogen.
CuCl + CO + 2H2O → CuCl.CO.2H2O
Possible Questions :
1. Give two relevant equations with conditions for the preparation of Hydrogen by BOSCH PROCESS./ Give equations with conditions for the WATER GAS
SHIFT REACTION.
2. How can you separate CO from Hydrogen?
3. How can you separate Carbon dioxide from Hydrogen?
 Tests for Hydrogen Gas

1. Ordinary hydrogen burns in air with a characteristic pop sound

2. Pure hydrogen burns in air or in the presence of oxygen with a pale blue flame and water is formed upon condensation.
It can be tested by sprinkling a few drops of it on white anhydrous copper sulphate . The later turns into blue hydrated copper
sulphate.

➢ Why is lighted candle or naked flame not brought near the apparatus producing hydrogen gas?
Ans: Lighted candle or naked flame do not brought near the apparatus producing hydrogen gas because if the gas is liked
it will form an explosive mixture leading to bursting of apparatus.
➢ There are two jars of Hydrogen One burns quietly while the other explodes with a pop sound. Explain the observation.
Ans: The jar which explodes with a pop sound contains hydrogen gas.Mixture of hydrogen gas and air burns with characteristic
pop sound .
 Reactions of Hydrogen Gas with Metal

METAL ACTIVITY SERIES

K Na Ca Mg Al Zn Fe Pb H Cu Hg Ag Au Pt
Element
← −−−−−− Active Metals Less Reactive Metals —----→

Reaction of Metal with water (hot/cold) to produce hydrogen gas

1. Potassium , sodium , calcium react with cold water to produce metallic hydroxide and liberate hydrogen gas.

*Potassium/Sodium/Calcium + Cold Water → Metallic Hydroxide + H2

2K + H2O → 2KOH + H2(↑)

(Potassium) (Cold Water) (Potassium Hydroxide) (Hydrogen)

K → Reaction is fast
Na→ Reaction is fast
2Na + 2H2O → 2NaOH + H2(↑)
(Sodium) (Cold Water) (Sodium Hydroxide) (Hydrogen) Ca→ Reaction takes place slowly

Ca + 2H2O → Ca(OH)2 + H2(↑)

(Calcium) (Cold Water) (Calcium Hydroxide) (Hydrogen)

➢ Why are sodium / Potassium are stored in kerosene / oil ?

Sodium and Potassium react violently with water. To prevent direct contact of sodium with water vapour or air , they are stored
in kerosene oil.
2. Magnesium/Aluminium/Zinc/Iron reacts with steam/hot water to produce metallic oxide and liberate hydrogen gas.

*Magnesium/Aluminium/Zinc/Iron + Cold Water/Steam → Metallic Oxide + H2

Mg + H2O → MgO + H2(↑)

(Magnesium) (Steam) (Magnesium Oxide) (Hydrogen)

2Al + 3H2O → Al2O3 + 3H2(↑)

(Aluminum) (Steam) (Aluminum Oxide) (Hydrogen)

Zn + H2O → ZnO + H2(↑)

(Zinc) (Steam) (Zinc Oxide) (Hydrogen)

3Fe + 4H2O ↔ Fe3O4 + H2(↑) [* This is a reversible reaction]

(Red hot iron) (Steam) (Iron Oxide) (Hydrogen)

Reaction of Metal with dilute acid to produce hydrogen gas

* Magnesium/Aluminium/Zinc/Iron + Diluted Acid → Metallic Salt + H2
2Na + 2HCl → NaCl + H2 (↑) Mg + 2HCl → MgCl2 + H2 (↑)
(Sodium) (dil Hydrochloric (Sodium Chloride) (Hydrogen) (Magnesium) (dil Hydrochloric (Magnesium Chloride) (Hydrogen)
Acid) Acid)

Zn + H2SO4 → ZnSO4 + H2 (↑) Fe + H2SO4 → FeSO4 + H2 (↑)

(Zinc) (dil Sulphuric (Zinc Sulphate) (Hydrogen) (Iron) (dil.Sulphuric Acid) (Iron II sulphate) (Hydrogen)
Acid)

Reaction of Metal with hydroxide to produce hydrogen gas

* Zinc/Lead/Aluminium + Diluted Acid → Metallic Salt + H2

Zn + 2NaOH → Na2ZnO2 + H2 (↑)

(Zinc) (Sodium Hydroxide) (Metallic Salt) (Hydrogen)
 Reactions of Hydrogen Gas with Non Metal

1. Hydrogen burns in oxygen with a Blue flame to form steam, which on condensation forms water.
2H2 + O2 → 2H2O + Heat
2. In diffused sunlight hydrogen combines with an equal volume of greenish yellow chlorine gas to form colourless hydrogen
chloride gas.
H2 + Cl2 → 2HCl
3. In the presence of Iron as a catalyst and Molybdenum (Mo) promoter and at 450 0 C temperature and 200
atmospheric pressure hydrogen reacts with nitrogen in the ratio 3:1 by volume to produce ammonia gas.
𝐹𝑒 ( 𝐶𝑎𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑦𝑠𝑡) , 𝑀𝑜 ( 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑟)
3H2 + N2 0 ⇌ 2NH3 + Heat
450 𝐶 , (200−900) 𝑎𝑡𝑚
(Hydrogen) (Nitrogen) (Ammonia)
4. When hydrogen is passed through boiling sulphur , hydrogen sulphide gas (H2S) is formed which smells like rotten egg.
H2 + S → H2S
(Hydrogen) (Sulphur) (Hydrogen Sulphide)

5. Hydrogen acts as a good reducing agent. When hydrogen is passed over hot metallic oxides , it removes oxygen from them
and thus reduces them to their corresponding metals.

CuO + H2 → Cu + H2O

PbO + H2 → Pb + H2O

ZnO + H2 → Zn + H2O

Fe2O3 + 3H2 → 2Fe + H2O

*Oxidation and Reduction reaction from book

 Uses of Hydrogen Gas

Properties Uses
1. A mixture of hydrogen and oxygen on burning produces heat upto These high temperature flames are used for
28000C. This flame is known as oxy-hydrogen flame. welding and cutting metals.
2. Hydrogen converts vegetable oils to fats at 2000C in the presence of Hydrogen is used in the preparation of vanaspati
catalyst nickel. This process is called catalytic hydrogenation of oils. ghee from liquid vegetable fats like groundnut
oil, coconut oil , etc.
3. In the presence of Iron as a catalyst and Molybdenum (Mo) promoter and Ammonia is used in the manufacture of fertiliser ,
at 450 0 C temperature and 200 atmospheric pressure hydrogen reacts nitric acid , explosives , etc.
with nitrogen in the ratio 3:1 by volume to produce ammonia gas.
𝐹𝑒 ( 𝐶𝑎𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑦𝑠𝑡) , 𝑀𝑜 ( 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑟)
3H2 + N2 0 ⇌ 2NH3 + Heat
450 𝐶 , (200−900) 𝑎𝑡𝑚
(Hydrogen) (Nitrogen) (Ammonia)

4. On combustion of hydrogen , when hydrogen is burnt , heat is produced Hydrogen can be used as a fuel. In this reaction
along with water. as a product water is formed. So, hydrogen is a
2H2 + O2
𝐵𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔
→ 2H2O + heat clean fuel.

5. Hydrogen is lighter than air Used for meteorological purpose

(Now it is replaced by helium)