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Physical Properties
Under normal conditions, hydrogen is a gas consisting of two hydrogen atoms chemically bonded together. It is a colorless, tasteless, odorless gas and is lighter than air. Hydrogen gas mixes easily with other gases and is highly flammable. Explosive gases are easily formed with hydrogen gas as a component. Hydrogen gas produces water when it is burned. This property led to its name, which translates from Greek as "water-former."
Chemical Properties
Hydrogen gas has a molecular weight, the sum of the weight of its atoms, of about 2.02 g. It is much less dense than water. Under normal conditions, such as room temperature, hydrogen gas is not very reactive. It does not react with other chemicals in the air unless its molecules have been artificially activated. Heating hydrogen gas causes it to become extremely reactive and highly flammable. One characteristic vital to life on Earth is that two hydrogen atoms combine with one oxygen molecule to form water.
Uses
The most common use for hydrogen gas is to process fossil fuels, which removes pollutants from the fuel. Hydrogen gas is also used in the production of ammonia, for use in fertilizer and cleaning products, and in the production of methanol, for use in producing other chemicals and in gasoline. Another important function of hydrogen gas is its use as a reducing agent of metal ores that aids in the production of such metals as steel. It is also commonly used to inflate floating balloons.
Health Effects
Due to the extreme reactivity of hydrogen with other chemicals at higher temperatures, fire and explosion are common dangers when working with hydrogen gas. Inhalation of excessive amounts of the gas can lead to headaches and dizziness and eventually unconsciousness or suffocation due to lack of oxygen. Because hydrogen gas is odorless and colorless, it can only be detected in the atmosphere by an appropriate gas detector. Hydrogen should be kept well contained while present in large quantities.