Hydrogen is the element that is found most abundantly in the universe. It is the smallest known molecule and does not belong to any of the groups in the periodic table.
The word hydrogen derives from the Greek composed of hydro that indicates “water” and genos that refers to a “generator”.
Hydrogen in its pure form is very scarce on Earth due to the effect of gravity that prevents it from being stable, therefore, it is always associated with another element such as, for example, with oxygen generating water (H2O), with nitrogen generating ammonia (NH3) or with carbon generating methane (CH4).
Hydrogen is commonly used as hydrogen peroxide, or hydrogen peroxide, which serves as a germicide to eliminate pathogenic organisms through oxidation.
Hydrogen is the only element whose three most common isotopes have been given different names of prothium, when it has a proton, deutérium, when it has a proton and a neutron and tritium, when it has a proton and two neutrons.
Isotopes are atoms that have the same amount of protons but different amounts of neutrons. Hydrogen on Earth exists mostly as a prothium.
Hydrogen in the periodic table
Hydrogen is the first element of the periodic table and does not belong to any of the other groups. Its atomic symbol is H and its atomic number is one, which indicates the number of patterns in the nucleus.
The atomic weight or the mass average of the hydrogen atom is 1.00794 and the state in which it is at room temperature is gas whose molecules have a rapidity of transition that does not allow stability in the atmosphere.
Hydrogen cycle
Hydrogen, when found with greater abundance on Earth in the form of water, shares the same cycle, changing its liquid, solid and gaseous state. The stages of the transformation cycle are: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, solidification, infiltration and runoff.
Hydrogen characteristics
Hydrogen was discovered in 1671 by Robert Boyle when it is released as a gas in his experiments with iron and acid. It is only known as an element in 1766 identified by Henry Cavendish.
Hydrogen is the smallest known molecule and in space it is capable of generating a large amount of energy by creating fusions with its atoms generating helium (He). Scientists seek to recreate this fusion of hydrogen on Earth to generate natural energy but its power has also been used for weapons such as the hydrogen bomb.
