METHOD OF LAB PREPARATION of Hydrogen

Reactants:

*Granulated zinc is taken in a flat bottom flask (X)

* Dilute hydrochloric acid or sulphuric acid which is added through the

thistle funnel (Y)

Granulated zinc is commercial zinc obtained from molten zinc. It may contain
traces of impurities which may have a slight catalyzing effect on the reaction.

Granulated zinc on reaction with dilute acid evolves hydrogen.

Procedure :

Granulated zinc is placed in flat bottom flask and dilute hydrochloric acid or
sulphuric acid is added slowly from the thistle or dropping funnel.

Observation :

A brisk effervescence is seen.

Precautions needed to be taken in the lab preparation of hydrogen:

* The apparatus should be air - tight as hydrogen forms an explosive mixture

with air if the gas leaks.

*The gas should be collected after all air has been removed from the delivery
tube and also gas jars should have no air bubbles.

* The lower end of the thistle funnel should dip below the level of the dilute
acid in the flask so that no hydrogen gas escapes through the thistle funnel.

Collection of hydrogen gas: Hydrogen is collected by downward displacement

of water. The reasons are stated below:

* Hydrogen is almost insoluble in water

* Even though hydrogen is lighter than air, it is not collected by downward

displacement of air since it forms an explosive mixture with air.
 Purification: Granulated zinc being impure, on treatment with

Dilute hydrochloric acid or sulphuric acid evolves in traces

Gaseous impurities. These impurities are further removed by

Passage of the impure gas through 3 washer bottles and a U-

Tube.

* Washer bottle ( 1) - Contains silver nitrate solution and absorbs arsine[ AsH3
] and phosphine [ PH 3] gases.

* Washer bottle ( 2) -Contains lead nitrate solution and absorbs hydrogen

sulphide

* Washer bottle ( 3) -Contains potassium hydroxide solution and absorbs

carbon dioxide, Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide

* U - tube -Contains anhydrous calcium chloride and absorbs moisture.

4.Preparation of hydrogen by industrial method

A. Manufacture of hydrogen by the Bosch process

Step 1

Production of water gas by passing steam over heated coke at around 1000
degrees celsius This reaction is endothermic.

C + H2 O o CO + H2 - Heat
1000 C

(Coke) (Steam) (Water gas)

(CO + H2is water gas & “ – Heat” means that heat energy is absorbed during
the reaction)

Step 2
Reduction of steam to hydrogen by carbon monoxide- Excess steam is
passed over the catalyst ferric oxide in the presence of a promoter chromic oxide
at around 450 degrees celsius. This reaction is exothermic. In this reaction,
carbon monoxide is converted to carbon dioxide with further yield of hydrogen.

C O + H2 + H2 O 4500 c CO2 + 2 H2 + Heat

(Water gas) (Excess steam) Fe2O3 - Cr2O3(Ferric oxide, chromic oxide)

( “ + Heat” means that heat energy is released during the reaction)

Step 3

Removal of carbon dioxide and untreated carbon monoxide from the

above mixture.

a. Removal of carbon dioxide is done -

By dissolving the gaseous mixture in caustic potash solution (aq.KOH).

2KOH + CO2 ---K 2 CO3 + H2 O

b.Removal of carbon monoxide is done by dissolving the gaseous mixture in

ammoniacal cuprous chloride solution.

CuCl + CO + 2 H2 O -------- CuCl . CO . 2 H2 O (addition product)

B. By electrolysis of acidulated water in an apparatus called Hofmann

Voltammeter. Hydrogen gas is released at the cathode and oxygen at the anode.

Tests for hydrogen

1. Hydrogen is a colourless, odourless gas which is lighter than air.

2. Combustibility of hydrogen

a. Pure hydrogen burns quietly in air with a pale blue flame forming water.

b. Hydrogen - air mixture burns with a characteristic pop sound.

PHYSICAL Properties of hydrogen

1. Hydrogen is a colourless, odorless, tasteless and non- poisonous gas.

2. Hydrogen is 14.4 times less dense than air and it is the lightest gas known.

3. Hydrogen is very slightly soluble in water.

4. Hydrogen is difficult to liquefy.

5.It is a very good conductor of heat.

Chemical properties of hydrogen

1. Hydrogen is a neutral gas.

2. Hydogen is combustible but a non-supporter of combustion.

3. Hydrogen is used in the manufacture of ammonia. Hydrogen combines

with nitrogen at around 450 -500 degree Celsius and at a pressure of around
200 to 900 atmospheres in the presence of the catalyst iron (Fe) and promoter
molybdenum (Mo) to form ammonia. This is called the Haber's process.

N2 H2 o c– 0c, 2NH 3+ Heat

+ 450 500 200-900 atm

Fe-Mo (iron-catalyst, Molybdenum-Promoter)

4. Hydrogen is used in the manufacture of Hydrogen chloride. Hydrogen

combines with chlorine slowly in the presence of diffused sunlight to form
Hydrogen chloride. Direct sunlight is avoided as the reaction becomes explosive.

H 2 + Cl 2 diffused sunlight 2 HCl ( g)

5. Hydrogen reacts with Sulphur vapours forming hydrogen sulphide gas

which has a smell of rotten eggs and turns lead acetate paper black.

H 2 + S (g)  H 2 S ( g)

(Vapour)

6. Reaction of hydrogen with metals-

When dry hydrogen is passed over heated metals, metal hydrides are formed.
 2Na + H2 -------2NaH

2K + H2 -------2KH

Ca + H2 -------CaH2

These hydrides are unstable and decompose on addition of water to liberate

hydrogen.

NaH + H2O---NaOH + H2

CaH2 + H2O---Ca(OH)2 + H2

7.Hydrogen reduces metal oxides of less active metals like zinc, iron, lead and
copper , to the free metals ..(Reduction is removal of oxygen from the metallic
oxide.)

a. ZnO + H2 ----- Zn + H2 O

b. Fe2 O 3 +3 H2 ----- 2 Fe + 3H2 O

c. PbO + H2 ----- Pb + H2 O

d. CuO + H2 ----- Cu + H2 O

USES OF HYDROGEN

1. Used as a fuel in the form of coal gas and water gas as it has a high heat of
combustion.

2. Hydrogen is used in the synthesis of ammonia and hydrochloric acid.

3. Hydrogen is used in hydrogenation reactions-

a. Hydrogenation of oil

Addition of hydrogen to vegetable oil at 2000 Cin the presence of a catalyst like
nickel under high pressure leading to formation of semi-solid fats like
vanaspati ghee .
b. Hydrogenation of coal i-Addition of hydrogen to coal under high pressure
in presence of a catalyst at a suitable temperature to form a mixture of liquid
compounds which is used as petrol.

4. Hydrogen is used in welding and cutting of metals

A mixture of oxygen and hydrogen burns to produce oxy-hydrogen flame that

has a temperature of 2500 degree Celsius which makes it useful for welding
and cutting of metals.

5. Used in metallurgy to extract pure metals from their metal oxides.