The Science of Hydrogen: Exploring Its Chemistry
by Yuvi K - December 16, 2023
Introduction
Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, forming the core of almost all stars, and is essential for life on Earth. Although hydrogen gas is practically colorless, odorless, and non-toxic, it is still an important source of energy in many industrial processes. Its importance arises from its remarkable chemical and energy properties, unleashed in various applications such as storage and direct use fuel. However, its exploitation is still in its infancy, as in its applications, the complexities of hydrogen chemistry and the associated challenges are continuously being comprehended and pushed. In this article, we will examine the basics of hydrogen science and its current application in energy production.
What is Hydrogen?
Hydrogen (H) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas at room temperature, with a molecular mass of 1.00794 g/mol. It is the lightest element of the periodic table and comprises 75% of the universe. It has been harnessed since the times of Ancient India and Ancient Greece leading to numerous inventions such as cannon and fireworks, which employ the uncontrolled reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. The current effort is to ensure that the full power of hydrogen is realized in a safe and scientific manner, with important implications for our collective future.
Structure, Isotopes, and Reactivities of Hydrogen.
Hydrogen is the simplest of all the elements and has a single electron in its outermost noble gas shell. Hydrogen reflects its smallest size structure in its instant reactions to act with other elements. Hydrogen can form many isotopes such as Protium (1H), Deuterium (2H) and Tritium (3H). Of these Protium is the most common, and Deuterium and Tritium are rare isotopes. As Hydrogen has only one electron in its outermost shell, it has the tendency to share this electron with other elements in order to acquire a noble gas configuration. This tendency renders it an important component of the reactions.
Further, when combined in molecules of various sets of elements, the reactivity of hydrogen changes greatly. To illustrate this nature of hydrogen, let us compare the reactivity between, H2 molecular Hydrogen and H2SO4 molecular Sulphuric Acid.
The reactive nature of Hydrogen depends largely on its molecular structure in combination with other elements, its active bond and the fundamental properties that define its reactivity. It is the basis for its application in energy production as well as other uses.
Hydrogen as Fuel
Hydrogen, because of its molecular structure, can be employed as a fuel. It has higher combustion energy compared to gasoline and almost no pollutant emissions. Thus hydrogen fuel is attractive from the environmental standpoint. In addition, as hydrogen is abundant it is considered a cleaner and more sustainable energy source compared to fossil fuels.
However, the efficiency of hydrogen as fuel is still far lower compared to conventional fuels such as gasoline and diesel due to the challenges in its handling and storage. With more technological advancement, one can expect that these issues would be considerably overcome to unleash its full energy potential.
Hydrogen in Energy Production
The processing of hydrogen to generate power is widely used, and in recent days, it is becoming a popular choice for energy production in many countries. Hydrogen can be burnt directly to create heat energy which is further converted to electricity. This conversion process is known as (Thermal-to-Electric Conversion – ताप से विद्युतीकरण) and is relatively simple as the temperature does not need to be very high.
Another method of generating electricity from hydrogen is its conversion to liquid fuel (liquid-hydrogen) and then burning it to generate steam. This is a longer process, as liquid-hydrogen (LH2) requires temperature of minus 253 degree Celsius and a high pressure environment to remain in liquid form. LH2 can be stored and transported in its liquid form. Subsequently, the steam produced upon burning LH2 is used to run turbines and create electricity.
Economic Factors for Hydrogen Incorporation
The efficiency with which, and the extent to which, hydrogen propulsion is integrated into many industries, depend largely upon the economic and infrastructural factors of the area. Government policies providing the financial support such as subsidies and tax exemptions play an important role in encouraging the adaptation of the hydrogen technologies. Suitable infrastructural advantages need to be provided to facilitate the large-scale development of a hydrogen-based industry. In addition, more efficient and cost-effective manufacturing processes of hydrogen need to be developed to ensure large-scale production. Nonetheless, the potential of hydrogen is huge and these challenges and many others continue to be addressed as more countries join the community of their adaptation.
Conclusion
Hydrogen promises to be a potential energy resource in the near future. Its properties make it a suitable fuel for the generation of electricity and heat energy for various applications. Its wide availability, low cost, and clean nature make it a desirable fuel source for many countries. To realize its full potential, many economic and infrastructural factors need to be addressed while also developing efficient and cost-effective processes to handle and store it. Undoubtedly, the exploitation of hydrogen energy has various associated challenges. However, initiatives such as the Green Hydrogen Coalition, Hydrogen Highway, EU Hydrogen Strategy, and the US National Hydrogen Plan focus on introducing a sustainable hydrogen-based economy. Through such initiatives, the limitless potential of hydrogen can be unlocked in the coming future.
