Uses of hydrogen
Hydrogen gas is put to four uses.
1 — as a rocket fuel
It is combustible and it is the lightest gas there is — exactly the two properties a rocket fuel needs.
2 — for making margarine
Hydrogen is used to produce margarine from vegetable oils.
3 — for making ammonia
Reacting hydrogen with nitrogen gas to produce ammonia gas. Ammonia is used to make fertilisers such as urea.
N2 + 3H2 → 2NH3
4 — for reduction
For reducing organic compounds.
Assignment 16.3
Find out what substances are used to send a small balloon up. Collect those substances and, with your teacher's help, send up a few balloons. Find out about the reactions that take place.
Why does the balloon rise?
It is upthrust — the very thing we learned in chapter 15. Because hydrogen is lighter than air, the weight of the air the balloon displaces exceeds the weight of the balloon.