Amanda+Rogers

Hydrogen Energy =** Hydrogen: ** =

[|Hydrogen] is the most common element in the world found usualy in compounds. Its symbol is **H**, andhas an atomic mass of 1.00794 grams per mole. As a gas it is invisible, highly flammable, and has no taste, smell, and is nontoxic. Hydrogen gas is the lightest gas weighing only about one fifteenth the weight of air. When it burns it has a light blue flame, when it ignites it combines with oxygen and forms an explosive gas called oxy-hydrogen.  Hydrogen has 3 common [|isotopes]; H1, the most abundant has one one proton. H2 has one proton and one nuetron. H2 is not radioactive and when part of water creates what is called [|heavy water]. The third isotope, H3, is radioactive and has one proton and two nuetrons. Hydrogen has the lowest boiling point of any element besides helium at -252.76° C (-422.93° F). At this temperature, Hydrogen becomes a clear liquid that is relatively stable. However, when it is warmed up it expands to 840 times its size (Universal Industrial Gases).  = ** How to Get Hydrogen: ** = Since a hydrogen atom can not be found alone, bonds must be broken.There are two ways of getting a Hydrogen atom by itself: Natural gas steam reforming and water electrolysis.  = = =Natural Steam Reforming= : is the most popular way of extracting hydrogen from a bond but also extracts carbon monoxide and dioxide. It is done by exposing natural gas to extremely hot steam (HO molecules) this makes a chemical reaction producing H, CO, CO2.   Additional hydrogen is produced when the carbon monoxide is exposed to more steam- the hydrogen and oxyden molecules are separted from eachother. =__Water Electrolysis__=

Takes much longer then then natural gas steam reforming, but does not produce any extra products. This is done by attatching an electrical power to two plates that are placed in water. Hydrogen will appear at the cathode (the negatively charged electrode) and oxygen will be at the anode (the positively charged electrode). The produced amount of the hydrogen is twice the amount of the oxygen, and both are relative to the total electrical charge that was sent through the water.

= __Uses of Hydrogen:__ = Hydrogen can be used in many ways and can even help make ammonia, methanol, gasoline, heating oil, and rocket fuel. It is also used to make fertilizers, glass, refined metals, vitamins, cosmetics, semiconductor circuits, soaps, lubricants, cleaners, and even margarine and peanut butter. Today, it can be used as a fuel or in a fuel cell to power buildings and vehicles. In the future it is planned to fuel, [|fuel cells], replace today’s natural gas for heating and cooling homes and powering hot water heaters, and Hydrogen production from hydrocarbons can also produce carbon. With more research, this carbon could be used for cars and buildings. = __Impacts on the Environment:__ = Believe it or not there actually are some draw back to using hydrogen energy. Becuase a large amount of hydrogen is taken from fossil fuels and non renewable sources and not water, when the hydrogen is extracted, [|carbon dioxide]is also produced. As many people know, carbon dioxide is the leading cause of global warming. According to John Heywood, director of MIT's Sloan Automotive Lab, "If the hydrogen does not come from renewable sources, then it is simply not worth doing, environmentally or economically." (Katie Mulik) =Possible Problems:= Though Hydrogen Energy seems to be a very viable and prospective idea, there are quite a few issues that need to be addressed first. For one, Hydrogen is very hard to transport because it must first be cooled below its boiling point of -252.76° C (-422.93° F). The hydrogen must stay below this temperature because as soon as it begins to boil, it expands to 840 times the volume of the liquid. So, this causes hydrogen leaks to expand and possibly explode like in the [|Hindsburg explosion.] Also, the cheapest way to produce Hydrogen is using natural gases which does not help the enviroment because carbon dioxide is still made. = = = Sources:= "Hydrogen -." __Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia__. 13 Mar. 2009 <[]>. Universal Industrial Gases, Inc...Hydrogen H2 Properties, Uses, Applications." __Universal Industrial Gases, Inc. - UIG Gas & Liquid Plants - UCG Industrial Gases Producer / Supplier: New Cryogenic Nitrogen Plant, Oxygen Plant, Air Separation Plant and Liquefier Manufacturer and Supplier; On-site N2 and O2 Gas Producer (Universal Cryo Gas)__. 13 Mar. 2009 <[]>.

"EcoSmart™ Concrete - Environmental Impact - CO2 Emissions." __EcoSmart™ Concrete - Home__. 23 Mar. 2009 [] = =

"Google Image Result for [|http://www.alternative4energy.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/steam-methane-reforming-process.jpg."]

Google Image Search. 23 Mar. 2009 []

[] []  Hayhurst, Chris. Hydrogen power of the future: new ways of turning fuel cells into energy. 1st ed. New York: Rosen Pub. Group 2003. Mulik, Katie. " __PBS__. 23 Mar. 2009 . 23 Mar. 2009 [] . Nice, Karim, and Jonathan Strickland. "HowStuffWorks "How Fuel Cells Work"" __HowStuffWorks - Learn How Everything Works!__ 23 Mar. 2009 <[]m>.=

Nicole did sections hydrogen, and possible problems. Amanda did how to get hydrogen, and impacts on environment. we both did uses of hydrogen. By: Amanda Rogers, and Nicole Davies
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