Important uses of hydrogen in human life

Uses of hydrogen in human life is the great contribution of hydrogen element. There are a large number of uses of hydrogen in different sector in our daily life.

Such as, use of hydrogen as an energy source, in industry, in gas chromatography, in cars cleaner and rocket fuel, in hydrogenation processes, in 

the formation of important chemical substances, in nanotechnology,  in welding, in nuclear fusion reaction etc.

The best 10 uses of hydrogen in the different purpose in our everyday life is listed below.

                  (I) Uses of hydrogen as reducing agents

                  (II) Hydrogen generators

                  (III)Uses of hydrogen in hydrogenation process

                  (IV)Uses of hydrogen as oxy-hydrogen torch and atomic hydrogen torch

                  (V)Uses of hydrogen in production of ammonia

                  (VI)Uses of hydrogen as fuel in rocket

                  (VII)Uses of hydrogen as energy source

                  (VIII)Uses of hydrogen in the preparation of polymer

                  (IX)Uses of hydrogen in metallurgy

                  (X)Uses of hydrogen in industry

                  (XI)Uses of hydrogen in nuclear reaction

                  (XII)Use of hydrogen gas as lifting agent

Uses of hydrogen as reducing agents

Hydrogen is a electro-positive non metallic element. The electronegativity of hydrogen is greater than alkali metal but less than p-block non metal.

For this reason, hydrogen is used as reducing agent in organic and inorganic chemistry.

The reduction of organic as well as inorganic substance by hydrogen take place in presence of few metal, Ni, Pt, Pd etc,

For example, it reduces aldehyde to alcohol, carboxylic acid to alcohol, alkene to alkane . Hydrogen also reduces different oxides of less electronegativemetal. 

 

The oxides of metals, such as, ZnO, CuO, PbO, FeO etc are reduced when they are heated and hydrogen is passed over them.

                                                    Hydrogen generators

The metallic hydrides, such as, NaH and LiH are used in portable hydrogen generator. When this hydride put in water, they release a large amount of hydrogen.

The complex, sodium borohydride ,on account of their solubility in organic solvents, are used as reducing agent in a number of organic reactions.

Uses of hydrogen in hydrogenation process

Hydrogen gas is largely used in hydrogenation process. The processes in which hydrogen gas is  added to compound in the presence of catalyst.

For example, vegetable oils, such as, coconut oil, groundnut oil, cotton seed oil, 

which are liquid at room temperature, are treated with hydrogen at 443 K temperature in presence of Ni catalyst. 

They take up hydrogen and change into semi-solid ghee or fat which is used in cooking medium.

  

Uses of hydrogen as oxy-hydrogen torch and atomic hydrogen torch

Hydrogen is used as oxy-hydrogen torch. When hydrogen is burnt in oxygen, a 

very hot flame with a temperature of about 3000 K to 3500 K is produced. This temperature is sufficient to melt platinum.

This hot flame is used in welding and other allied processes. The apparatus in which this flame is produced,  known as oxy-hydrogen torch.

Later on, Langmuir create a new torch, known as atomic hydrogen torch which gives a flame with temperature is about 4200 K to 4700 K .

It makes use of the heat liberated by the change of atomic hydrogen into molecular hydrogen.  

This atomic hydrogen is produced from molecular hydrogen, when it passed 

through the electric arc of tungsten at very high temperature is about 5000 K.

Uses of hydrogen in production of ammonia

Ammonia is a very important chemical substance which is used as a refrigerant and also used to produce fertilizer, such as, ammonium phosphate, ammonium sulfate, urea etc.

 

Now, hydrogen gas is used in production of this ammonia by Haber process.

Beside ammonia, hydrogen gas is used in large scale preparation of methanol and hydrogen halide, metal halide etc compound. 

Uses of hydrogen as fuel in rocket

Since hydrogen is highly flammable, especially when mixed with pure oxygen. This mixture is used as a alternative fuel in rocket due to purpose of space research.

Usually, mixture of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen combine to each other to make an explosive mixture which produce high heat energy.

Besides, metalhydrides, such as, tin and silicon hydrides high heats of combustion. They are being examined as rocket fuels.

Uses of hydrogen as energy source

Hydrogen gas is used as a source of energy. On combustion of hydrogen, a tremendous amount of heat energy is obtained.

The extent of heat energy for combustion of hydrogen is higher than other fuel, like petroleum, diesel, gasoline etc. 
Hence, hydrogen gas is used as a source energy in rocket, aeroplane etc.

Hydrogen is also used in the preparation of synthetic petroleum and other petroleum products. Besides, hydrogen is used in fuel cell due to production of electric energy.

 Uses of hydrogen in the preparation of polymer

Hydrogen gas is used in the preparation of polymer compound in polymer industry. 

Uses of hydrogen in nuclear reaction

Hydrogen is used in thermonuclear reaction. When hydrogen is heated with high temperature, they combine to change into helium element.

This is called nuclear fusion reaction. In this thermonuclear reaction, a tremendous of energy is released. Besides, hydrogen is used in preparation of hydrogen bomb.

Use of hydrogen as clean fuel for cars

Hydrogen is one of best clean fuel for cars, because when it burns, the result is simple water.

For this reason, there are efforts of discover of a specific engine that can power auto mobiles on hydrogen, so that it help to reduce air pollution.

Uses of hydrogen in metallurgy

In extraction of metals, hydrogen is used in metallurgy. In metal extraction process from metal ores, metal oxides are obtained in last step.

Hydrogen reduces less electropositive metal oxide, such as, ZnO, CuO, PbO, FeO , to convert it pure metal.

Use of hydrogen gas as lifting agent

Hydrogen gas is most lightest gas in the world. For this reason, it is used in meteorological gas balloons and aeroplane .

Although, it does not used as fuel in aeroplane due to its inflammable nature.

  

Uses of hydrogen in industry

Hydrogen is used in different industrial production of necessary goods, fertilizer, 

methanol, semi-solid fats, ghee, margarine, electrolux, cookies, nanomaterials etc.  It also used as refinery of goods.

Other uses of hydrogen

Hydrogen gas is used as standard hydrogen electrode in electrochemistry. 

Standard reduction potential of metals are calculated with the help of this standard hydrogen electrode.

Hydrogen gas is also used in gas chromatography, in nanotechnology and in electrolux refrigerator.   

Why is the use of hydrogen as fuel more better than other fuel ?

Uses of hydrogen does not create any environmental pollution. Because, on combustion of dihydrogen, water is produced as byproduct .

Besides, the amount of heat energy on combustion of di-hydrogen per gram is higher than other fuel.

For example, the amount of heat energy released for dihydrogen is 142 Kj/gm,but 
 for gasoline, petroleum, coke, paper and wood are 48 ,43, 29, 20 and 15 kj/gm respectively.

The efficiency of engine with di-hydrogen fuel is 25-30% more than the engine with gasoline fuel.

On combustion of di-hydrogen, water is produced as byproduct. This water is used to regenerate di-hydrogen easily.

From the above said reason, the use of hydrogen as fuel is more better than other fuel[ gasoline, petroleum etc].

• Why hydrogen is used as reducing agent ?
• Why is the use of hydrogen as fuel more better than other fuel ?
• How does hydrogen acts as a source of energy?
• What is oxy-hydrogen and atomic hydrogen torch?
• What is hydrogen generators ?
• What is active hydrogen in chemistry?
• What is atomic hydrogen in chemistry ?

Read more : Activating groups explanation with examples