HY-DRO-GEN

Chem4Kids Scientist Guy with Spiked Hair

Let's start our tour of the periodic table with hydrogen (H). Why start with hydrogen? Hydrogen is the first element in the periodic table and the most basic and common of all elements in the Universe. Over ninety percent of all the atoms in the universe are hydrogen atoms, and they are the lightest of all elements.

Although it has been around forever, it took a chemist named Lavoisier to name it. The name hydrogen comes from the Latin word "hydro", which means water (H₂O). Lavoisier knew that hydrogen was in all water molecules. Scientists use the letter "H" to represent hydrogen in all chemical equations and descriptions. You can also find hydrogen closer to home in every organism, blowtorches, and low temperature freezing processes.

Where else can you find hydrogen?


		The Sun Hydrogen is very easy to burn. As you know, the Sun is one big ball of fire. One of the elements that makes the sun burn so brightly is hydrogen.
	Welding and Blowtorches Sometimes you see someone working with a blowtorch, or welding something together. They use gases that can burn very hot and make a bright flame. One of those gases is hydrogen.
		Plants and Sugars Hydrogen is in all plants. There are sugars all throughout plants and there is hydrogen in sugar. That's why animals eat plants... For the sugar and the energy.
	Cryogenics Hydrogen is used in something called cryogenics. Cryogenics is a process when scientists freeze things. When hydrogen is in a liquid form it is very, very cold. Scientists use this cold hydrogen to freeze things very quickly.

RELATED LINKS

- Chem4Kids: Periodic Table
- Chem4Kids: Atoms
- Chem4Kids: Compounds
- Chem4Kids: Oxygen
- Chem4Kids: Fusion Reactions
- Geography4Kids: Hydrosphere
- Geography4Kids: Solar Radiation

>	Say It/Find It
-	Shell Info
-	Bond With It
-	Next Element
-	Element List
-	Periodic Table
	MORE CHEMISTRY TOPICS

Custom Search

* The custom search only looks at Rader's sites.

** Andrew Rader Studios does not monitor or review the content available at these web sites. They are paid advertisements and neither partners nor recommended web sites.