 |
 |
 |
 What
is hydrogen? Why
is hydrogen? In
History In
Chemistry The
Atom
Atomic
weight Isolution
Uses
Uses in IC Engines
Fuel cells
The
Perodic Table Of The Elememts |
|
|
|
What
is hydrogen? Why
is hydrogen? In
History In
Chemistry The
Atom
Atomic
weight Isolution
Uses
Uses in IC Engines
Fuel cells
The
Perodic Table Of The Elememts |
What is Hydrogen?
| Hydrogen is
the simplest element know to man. An atom of hydrogen has only on proton
and one electron. It is also most plentiful in the universe.
The sun's energy comes from hydrogen. The sun is a giant ball of hydrogen and helium gases. Inside the sun, hydrogen atoms combine to form helium atoms.This process-called fusion-gives off radiant energy. This radiant energy sustains life on earth. It gives us light and heat and makes plants grow. It makes the wind blow and rain fall. It is stored in fossil fuels.Make of the energy we use come from the sun. Hydrogen as
a gas (H2) doesn't exist on earth. It is always mixed with other elements.
Hydrogen is also found in all growing things-biomass.
|
Hydrogen is Renewable
| Most of the
energy we use today comes from fossil fuels. Only seven percent comes from
renewable energy sources. But people want to use more renewable energy.
It is usually cleaner and we won't run out of it. We'll never run out of
hydrogen either.
Renewable energy
sources-like solar and wind-can't make energy all the time.The sun doesn't
always shine. The wind does not always blow. They don't always make energy
where we need it. Hydrogen can store energy until it's needed and move
it to where it's needed.
|
Hydrogen and Electricity
| Every day,
we use more energy, mostly coal, to make electricity. Electricity is a
secondary source of energy. Secondary sources of energy-sometimes called
energy carries-store,move, and deliver energy to consumers. We convert
energy to electricity because it is easier for us to move and use.
Electricity
gives us light, heat, hot water, cold food, TVs, and computers. Life would
be really hard if we had to burn the coal, split the atoms, or build our
own dams. Energy carries makes life easier.
|
| Hydrogen is an energy carrier for the future. It is a clean, renewable fuel that can be used in places where it's hard to use electricity. Sending electricity a long way costs four times as much as shipping hydrogen by pipeline. |
How is Hydrogen Made?
| Since hydrogen doesn't exist on earth as a gas, we must make it. We make hydrogen by separating it from water, biomass, or natural gas. Scientists have even discovered that some algae and bacteria give off hydrogen. It's very expensive to make hydrogen right now, but new technologies are being developed all the time. |