Hydrogen

Hydrogen is used in many different ways in industry and in the space program. Liquid hydrogen is used to power the Space Shuttle into space.

When a metal, such as zinc, reacts with an acid, hydrogen gas is produced. Click to see a 120 kb video of zinc reacting with hydrochloric acid according to the equation below.

Zn(s) + 2HCl(aq) => ZnCl2(aq) + H2(g)

Hydrogen is a very important gas for the production of ammonia in a process called the Haber process. Hydrogen reacts with nitrogen to form ammonia according to the equation below.

3H2(g) + N2(g) => 2NH3(g) 

Properties of hydrogen gas

Is explosive Click to see a 120 kb video. The video shows the hydrogen pop test.
Odourless and colourless.  
Hydrogen is lighter than air and was used with limited success in giant airships as shown on the right.