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Hydrogen Facts & Worksheets

Hydrogen is the simplest and most abundant among all chemical elements in the universe.

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Hydrogen, with the symbol H and an atomic number of 1, is the simplest and most abundant among all chemical elements in the universe. It is a type of gas that has no color, odor, and taste at a standard temperature and pressure.

See the fact file below for more information on Hydrogen, or you can download our 26-page Hydrogen worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORY AND EYMOLOGY 

  • In the early 1500s, an alchemist named Paracelsus observed that combustible bubbles were produced when iron filings and sulfuric acid were combined.
  • In 1671, Robert Boyle, a chemist, made a similar observation.
  • In 1766 the credit was given to Henry Cavendish, an English physicist, and chemist when he collected the bubbles and proved how they differed from other gases. He later debunked the notion that water was an element by demonstrating that water is created when hydrogen burns.
  • In 1783, Antoine Lavoisier, a French chemist, named the gas, hydrogen. It came from two Greek words “hydro” and “genes” which translates to water forming.
  • Hydrogen, represented by the symbol H, is made up of an electron and a nucleus with one unit of positive charge.
  • Hydrogen gas is colorless, odorless, and tasteless in its natural state.
  • Hydrogen is a flammable gas but it does not promote combustion.
  • Hydrogen is lighter than air with an atomic weight of 1.008.
  • Hydrogen is significantly more soluble in organic solvents compared to water.
  • Hydrogen is an essential chemical element since it is a component of practically every molecule in living organisms. It is also present in stars and gaseous planets. In the Earth’s atmosphere, pure hydrogen gas is rare, and any hydrogen that does exist quickly escapes the gravity of the planet.

ATOMIC MODEL: HYDROGEN

  • Niels Bohr, a Danish physicist, presented his model in order to explain the spectral lines of hydrogen. In the atom model that he proposed, the electron could only occupy specific orbits around the nucleus. The electrons in this atomic model, which was the first to apply the quantum theory, were constrained to particular orbits around the nucleus. 
  • In his model of the atom, Niels Bohr used electrons limited to only a number of stable orbits. It was the first atom model to apply quantum theory. The fact that electrons could only exist in particular orbits explained why certain elements, like hydrogen, only emit and absorb light at particular wavelengths.

SOURCES: HYDROGEN

  • Fossil fuels are the major source of hydrogen in the United States. It is done through reformation releasing hydrogen from its hydrocarbon molecules. The amount of carbon dioxide emitted will decrease if these procedures are combined with carbon capture, use, and storage. Natural gas reforming is an advanced and established method of producing hydrogen, which builds on the infrastructure already in place for natural gas.
  • Sunlight can either directly or indirectly provide the energy required to generate hydrogen. Although this resource is abundant, it is dispersed and only accessible for a given amount of time in a day
  • Biomass is an abundant natural resource that may be formed domestically, and it can be transformed into hydrogen and other byproducts using a variety of processes. The net carbon emissions of these techniques can be low since growing biomass removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
  • Wind is an abundant yet intermittent source of electricity generation. When used to power water electrolysis, wind energy can produce hydrogen that can be used to fuel automobiles or saved and utilized later in fuel cells to produce electricity when the wind resource is low.
  • Using electricity, water may be split into hydrogen and oxygen. This process is called electrolysis and can effectively utilize renewable energy—such as wind, geothermal, or solar power—to create carbon-free hydrogen. This technology is highly established and commercially available.

DIFFERENT FORMS: HYDROGEN

  • Atomic Hydrogen (H) is the first element in the periodic table. It is a free radical, with a single proton and a single unpaired electron. However, a hydrogen atom rarely exists on its own due to the eagerness of its unpaired electron to pair up with another electron.
  • Molecular Hydrogen (H2) has two protons and two electrons. It is a gas that is created when two hydrogen atoms join forces to form a hydrogen molecule. As a result of its stability with a neutral charge, it is the most prevalent form of hydrogen. In the universe, H2 is the smallest molecule. That implies that it can enter places that nothing else can, such as the mitochondria, the cells’ energy centers. Plastic cannot be used to store hydrogen gas because the gas will seep through the walls of the container.
  • Proton (H+) results when a hydrogen atom loses its electron. It turns into a hydrogen ion that is positively charged. This is the hydrogen that is used to make the ATP enzyme, which fuels the mitochondria and cells in our bodies. In addition, the basis of the pH scale is the H+ hydrogen ion.
  • Hydride (H:–) is a hydrogen ion with one extra electron which also means that it is an anion, a negatively charged ion. Hydride (H:–) is not a free radical, but it lacks stability as this form of hydrogen has a strong alkaline base and reacts with water to produce hydroxide. Other than water, hydride and metals can interact chemically to create reducing agents.
  • Potential of Hydrogen (pH) is a measurement of hydrogen concentration using a solution, which indicates if the water is acidic, neutral, or alkaline. Higher hydrogen ions mean acidic, while lower means alkaline.

USES: HYDROGEN

  • U.S. industries utilize almost all of the hydrogen that is consumed to refine petroleum, treat metals, create fertilizer, and process food. Hydrogen is used by U.S. petroleum refineries to reduce the sulfur level of fuels.
  • The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was one of the first organizations to use hydrogen fuel cells to power the electrical systems on spacecraft, and it started using liquid hydrogen as rocket fuel in the 1950s.
  • Hydrogen and oxygen atoms are combined to create power in hydrogen fuel cells. In an electrochemical cell like a battery, hydrogen, and oxygen combine to form electricity, water, and a tiny quantity of heat. For a wide range of applications, there are numerous different types of fuel cells available. Small fuel cells are used in military applications, laptop computers, and even mobile phones. Large fuel cells are capable of supplying electricity to electric power grids, emergency or backup power to buildings, and areas not connected to electric power systems.
  • The use of hydrogen as a fuel for power plants is gaining popularity. Several power stations in the U.S. have declared intentions to use combustion gas turbines powered by a fuel mixture of natural gas and hydrogen.
  • Hydrogen is utilized in the production of nitrogenous fertilizers and the synthesis of ammonia.

Hydrogen Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Hydrogen across 26 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching kids about Hydrogen, the simplest and most abundant among all chemical elements in the universe.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Hydrogen Facts
  2. Word Find
  3. True or False
  4. Check the Sources
  5. What’s on the Table?
  6. Hydrogen Forms and Symbols
  7. My Hydrogen Model
  8. Find the Perfect Match
  9. Hydrogen Timeline
  10. Hydrogen Twist
  11. Life Without Hydrogen

Frequently Asked Questions

What is hydrogen and what are its compounds?

Hydrogen is a gas that is lighter than air. It is flammable and diatomic, meaning it has two atoms. It’s colorless and only sparingly soluble in solvents. It boils at -253.5 degrees Celsius. Platinum metal or heat can catalyze the reaction of hydrogen with oxygen to form water. In hydrogen fuel cells, the chemical oxidation of hydrogen to water produces electricity.

How common is hydrogen?

Hydrogen is the most basic and abundant chemical element in the universe, having only a single proton and one electron. It’s thought that 90% of the observable universe is composed of hydrogen.

Where is hydrogen naturally found?

Hydrogen is one of the most abundant elements in the universe. It can be found in stars and planets, like Jupiter, and on Earth, it’s mostly found in water.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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