Hydrogen the rogue Element

Hydrogen – the rogue Element :- Hydrogen is one of the most abundant element of the universe (about 76%), however , it occurs in our atmosphere to a minute extent, only one part in a million by volume because of its highly reactive nature. But in the form of naturally occurring water its abundance is about 0.9% by weight. Nearly all the hydrogen in the world is in from of water. In solar atmosphere, H₂ is the main constituent used as nuclear fuel consumed by our sun and other stars to produce energy. In the combined state it is also present in oils, fats, wood, coal, petroleum, cellulose etc. organic substances usually contains hydrogen. In the Free State, hydrogen occurs in volcanic gases, sometimes in natural gases.

Paracelsus, a Swiss-German alchemist, early in the sixteenth century, recognized a flammable air formed by the action of sulphuric acid with iron. However, it was only in 1766 when an English chemist Cavandish first isolated pure hydrogen by passing stream through a red hot gun barrel and distinguished it from other gases. Later on Cavandish also prepared hydrogen by the action of various acids on certain metals. Because the element produces water when burnt in air, the French Chemist Lavoisier called it hydrogen which means water producer.