Hydrogen

Hydrogen is a diatomic element that is in a gaseous form at room temperature. Its most identifying characteristic is the fact that it is highly explosive. It is the lightest element in the world, and has a lifting power of 8% more than that of helium. Hydrogen was used in airships and zeppelins for more than 20 years during the beginning of the 20th century. This practice stopped abruptly after the German airship Hindenburg disaster over New Jersey. It is used in fuel cells to create electricity, and to power cars and planes. Liquid hydrogen is mixed with liquid oxygen to form a cryogenic liquid that is burnt in Solid Rocket Boosters to power the space shuttle. Hydrogen is used to fill weather balloons because of its superb lifting power.

Hydrogen forms lots of important bonds, primarily with the elements fluorine, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon. A hydrogen acceptor is an element that accepts hydrogen atoms and is attracted to them. The most common compounds formed by hydrogen are hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, and water. Hydrogen bonds are also significant in the construction of synthetic materials, such as nylon, and organic materials like wood and cotton. Hydrogen also bonds with oxygen to form hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which is a very common household oxidizer. Hydrogen peroxide is used to give white laundry a bleach-free bleaching. Mix it with backing soda for a painful toothpaste substitute. Remove wine, blood, tea, and coffee stains from most fabrics. Make a solution with water and scrub your sink! Water your plants with a peroxide solution to make them perky!

It is the first element of the periodic table, and has an atomic weight of 1 amu (atomic weight unit), making it the lightest element in existence. The symbol...

... middle of paper ...

...ide poisoning, either.

High-temperature operations has its disadvantages. It requires thermal shielding for other equipment, as well as personnel. It requires a slow start-up time to spool up to its operational temperatures, and it not very portable.

There is a type of welding that utilizes hydrogen, called Atomic Hydrogen Welding. The welding tool is two tungsten steel rods, acting as electrodes, through which passes an arc of electricity. Hydrogen gas is pump through the arc, and the temperature of the arc disassociates the gas into individual molecules, which absorb an incredible amount of heat. When the gas passes through the arc, it reassembles itself, and burns ordinarily, and using oxygen in the air. This is the hottest type of welding process yet; with a flame of over 7232 degrees F. it was invented in 1926, and was used extensively in Germany during WWII.