WEEK 5

HYDROGEN

Hydrogen, H is the first element in the periodic table. It consist of a nucleus with only one proton –
without any neutron. Its atom has only one electron, which moves around the nucleus in the first
energy level (k-shell). its orbital configuration is 1s2. Under normal conditions of temperature and
pressure, hydrogen exists as a gaseous diatomic molecule H2, in which the two atoms are link by a
single covalent bond.Hydrogen does not occur in a free state in the atmosphere (except as volcanic
gases) it occurs as compounds, such as water acids and in almost all organic compounds. The sun is
about 90% hydrogen by mass, and the light been emitted by the star is pure hydrogen.

ISOTOPES OF HYDROGEN.

Hydrogen has three isotopes.

1 Common Hydrogen called Protium, 11H;

3 Tritium, 31H, (or 31T)

Protium and deuterium are similar in chemical behaviours, they form water H2O and deuterium
oxide (heavy water), D2O respectively. Tritium is an unstable isotope of hydrogen, it is radioactive.

Hydrogen has an oxidation number of +1 in most of its compound except hydrides where it is -1.

LABORATORY PREPARATION OF HYDROGEN

Hydrogen is liberated when certain metals react with dilute mineral acids, water or steam. It is also
given off when tin, zinc or aluminium react with hot concentrated solutions of sodium or potassium
hydroxide. The three methods commonly used for preparation of hydrogen in the laboratory are as
follows:

1 Action of zinc on an acid – dilute hydrochloric or tetraoxosulphate(v1)acid attacks metallic zinc

Zn(s) + 2HCl(aq) ZnCl2(aq) + H2(g)

Zn(s) + H2SO4(aq) ZnSO4(aq) + H2(g)

2 Action of sodium on cold water – sodium liberates hydrogen from cold water, this reaction is very
vigorous and should be carried out with extreme care using only a small piece of sodium.

2Na(s) + 2H2O(l) 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)

Action of iron on steam. Iron at red heat liberates hydrogen from steam. Iron(11), diiron (111); oxide
Fe3O4 , is formed at the same time. The reaction is reversible.

3Fe(s) + 4H2O(g) Fe3O4(s) + 4H2(g)

INDUSTRIAL PREPARATION OF HYDROGEN

Hydrogen gas is produced in a large scale, for industrial use, by several methods;

1 From hydrocarbons – Natural gas. Methane, CH4 is the main constituent of natural gas. It is passed
with steam over nickel as catalyst at 800OC and 30 atmosphere.
 Ni
CH4(g) + H2O(g) [800 c 30 atm] CO(g) + 3H2(g)

More steam is passed to convert carbon (11) oxide, CO to carbon (1V), CO2.

CO(g) + 3H2(g) + H2O(g) CO2(g) + 4H2(g)

Carb2on(1V)oxide is removed by passing the mixture through a solution of KOH, leaving hydrogen gas.

2 from water gas [Bosch process].

Water is produced by passing steam over white-hot coke at about 1000oC, to give a mixture of
carbon (11) oxide and hydrogen, known as water gas.

C(S) + H2O(g) CO(g) + H2(g)

[ Water gas]

More steam is then passed over the mixture, to obtain carbon (1V) oxide and more hydrogen.

CO(g) + H2(g) + H2O(g) CO2(g) + 2H2(g)

[ Water gas]

The carbon(1V) oxide is then removed by dissolving the mixture in water under pressure of 30
atmosphere, leaving only the hydrogen gas.

3 By Electrolysis. Hydrogen gas is obtained as a by-product at the cathode during the electrolysis of
NaCl(aq), NaOH(aq), or dilute H2SO4(aq) – called electrolysis of acidulated water.

4 From cracking of petroleum products. Hydrogen is obtained as a by- product in the catalytic
cracking of petroleum products.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF HYDROGEN.

1 Pure hydrogen gas is colourless (invisible) odourless, and tasteless.

2 it is insoluble in water.

3. Hydrogen is less dense than air, it is the lightest gas known.

NOTE:

Hydrogen is less dense than air, and should be collected by upward delivery.

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF HYDROGEN.

1 Laboratory test.- Introduce a lighted splint into a gas jar of hydrogen. It explore on mixing with air,
with the characteristics pop sound. This is the laboratory test for hydrogen gas.

2 Action on litmus – when a damp (wet) blue or red litmus paper is put in a gas jar of hydrogen,
there will be no change in colour, the gas is neutral to litmus. It has no effect on litmus.

3 Combustion – Dry hydrogen burns with a pale blue flame in air at a jet when a lighted splint is
applied.

NOTE- When a lighted splint is inserted into a gas jar of hydrogen (where there is no air). the light
will be extinguished, showing that although hydrogen burns in air, it will not allow a lighted splint to
burn in it. Ie it does not support combustion.
4 Reducing properties

a reaction with metal oxide – when hydrogen gas is passed over heated oxide of copper, zinc, iron,
tin, lead, or silver in a combustion tube, it removes the oxygen leaving the metal as the residue.
Hence hydrogen gas is a reducing agent.

CuO(S) + H2(g) Cu(S) + H2O(l)

(Black) (brown)

B Reaction with non metals – Hydrogen undergoes addition reaction with non-metals

1 Hydrogen burns in a gas jar of chlorine in the sunlight as the catalyst, to produce hydrogen
chloride gas. H2(g) + Cl2(g) 2HCl(g)

11 when Hydrogen is passed into a test tube of molten sulphur, a colourless gas with rotten-egg
smell is evolved, the gas is hydrogen sulphide. H2(g) + S(s) H2S(g)

111 Hydrogen reacts with nitrogen under high pressure at a moderate temperature, and in the
presence of finely divided iron as a catalyst, to produce ammonium.

3H2(g) + N2(g) 2NH3(g) [Haber Process]

In the above reactions, hydrogen is acting as a reducing agent, hence behaving like a metal.

5 Oxidizing property – Hydrogen reacts with highly reactive metals, such as sodium, lithium, and
calcium to give the corresponding hydrides. Na(s) + H2(g) 2NaH(S)

( Hydrogen is reduced; it is acting as an oxidizing agent)

6 Reactions with hydrocarbons – Hydrogen undergoes addition reaction with unsaturated

H2(g) + C2H4(g) C2H6(g)

7 Production of alcohol – Hydrogen reacts with carbon (11) oxide at 300oC and high pressure, to give
methanol an alcohol. CO(g) + 2H2(g) CH3OH(l) ( methanol )

USES OF HYDROGEN

1. Hydrogen is use in filling weather balloons, because of its lightness (or very low density).

2. it is use in the production of ammonia by Haber Process.

3. in oxy – hydrogen flame, use in cutting pre - heated metals.

4. in converting coal to crude oil.

5. In hardening of vegetable oil to obtain margarine.

6. in the manufacture of plastic.

7. as a reducing agent – In the production of metals, such as copper and lead from their oxides

8. In the manufacture of methanol.

9. In the synthesis of hydrochloric acid.

10. in the production of water gas and coal gas used as industrial fuels.