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What is hydrogen?  Why is hydrogen?  In History  In Chemistry  The Atom
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The Perodic Table Of The Elememts



Isolation


In the laboratory, small amounts of hydrogen gas may be made by the reaction of calcium hydride with water. 

    CaH2 + H2O  Ca(OH)2 + 2H2 

This is quite efficient in the sense that 50% of the hydrogen  produced comes form water. Another very convenient laboratory scale experiment follows Boyle's early synthesis, the reaction of iron filings with dilute sulphuric acid. 

    Fe + H2SO4  FeSO4 + H2 

There are many industrial methods for the production of hydrogen and that used will depend upon local factors such as the quantity required and the raw materials to hand. Two processes in use involve heating coke with steam in the water gas shift reaction or hydrocarbons such as methane with steam.

    CH4 + H2O (1100?C)  CO + 3H2 

    C(coke) + H2O (1000?C)  CO + H2 

In both these cases, further hydrogen may be made by passing the CO and steam over hot (400?C) iron oxide or cobalt oxide. 

    CO + H2O  CO2 + H2