hydrogen Archives - Quirky Science

19Apr 2019 by Vincent Summers 1 Comment

Muonium: An Atom Similar to Hydrogen, Only No Protons!

[caption id="attachment_23970" align="alignright" width="480"] No proton![/caption] You heard correctly! From cosmic ray bombardments and particle accelerator experiments comes “muonium,” an other-worldly form of atom that, to a degree, resembles hydrogen. This atom is fascinating research scientists, along with another oddball, positronium. An Exotic Element… Sort Of There are some 90 naturally-occurring elements on Earth. There are more than a dozen other artificial elements, as well. Muonium is artificial, but not in the usual sense of the term. All of the more than one-hundred elements found in the periodic table consist of atoms made up of electrons traveling in orbitals about respective nuclei containing one or more protons and neutrons. Though muonium does have an electron orbiting a nucleus, it possesses no proton or neutron. Instead, it’s nucleus consists of an…

17Apr 2019 by Vincent Summers 3 Comments

How Many Different Kinds of Water – Water Isotopes – are In Your Glass?

Food, Health

[caption id="attachment_23779" align="alignright" width="480"] Water. Just water. Image by Rollingroscoe.[/caption] The woman of the house comes out of her garden. Having worked for hours, she has a “powerful” thirst that only a glass of water can quench. She opens the freezer door, clinks a few cubes of ice into her glass, and then turns to the sink and fills the voids between the cubes with pure water from the tap. Water consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom – H2O. At first thought, it would seem there should only be one kind of water. This is not accurate, however. That is so because there are isotopes of both hydrogen and oxygen. To understand what an isotope is, it is important to realize that the number of protons in…

26Jun 2017 by Vincent Summers 2 Comments

Comparing ⁴He with ²H₂ – An Atom with a Molecule?

Astronomy, Physics

The title of this article may seem a bit strange. How do we begin comparing a helium-4 atom with a molecule of deuterium hydrogen? It may become more apparent if we examine illustrations of the two species. Note the similarities and the differences. If you do, comparing 4He with 2H₂ should not seem so strange. Helium-4 Helium is element number two in the periodic table. This means helium has an atomic number of two—it has two protons. Protons are positively charged. Now an atom is neutral, thus electrical neutrality dictates a helium atom also has two electrons. The only variable is the number of neutrons. Helium-4 (sometimes written 4He) is a very stable form of helium and has two neutrons. Deuterium or Heavy Hydrogen Atomic hydrogen (symbol H) consists primarily…

04Jul 2016 by Vincent Summers 2 Comments

Heavy Water –vs.– Regular Water

Chemistry, Physics

[caption id="attachment_14687" align="alignright" width="440"] Heavy Water & Water - Image by Author.[/caption] Hydrogen exists as three varieties or isotopes: protium, deuterium, and tritium. Heavy water, or deuterium oxide (D₂O) is the same compound as ordinary or tap water (H₂O) with one structure difference. Most of the hydrogen atoms in tap water have zero neutrons in their centers, or nuclei. On the other hand, every atom of deuterium contains precisely one neutron. We will not discuss tritium, with its one proton and two neutrons. [caption id="attachment_14693" align="alignright" width="400"] Protium & Deuterium Hydrogen - NASA[/caption] A Closer Inspection of Hydrogen Isotopes The mass of an atom is determined by the nucleus. Since the weight of a proton and that of a neutron are nearly identical, deuterium atoms have a mass essentially double…

18May 2016 by Vincent Summers 6 Comments

Total Energy in One Hydrogen Atom

Chemistry, Physics

[caption id="attachment_14456" align="alignright" width="440"] Hydrogen Bomb[/caption] Hydrogen is the lightest of the elements. However, there are three isotopes of hydrogen. The lightest of these is protium. It contains just one proton and one electron. Let’s determine the total energy of one protium atom. Its mass is 1.007822 atomic mass units. So what is the total energy one hydrogen atom produces if obliterated? By obliterated, we mean 100% conversion from matter to energy, not the mere energy of separation of particles, as in fission. Einstein’s Mass-to-Energy Equation In our calculating, it is important we stick to proper units. If we were cooking and the recipe called for a cup of flour, would we substitute a tablespoon? Our equation is Einstein’s mass to energy expression, E = mc² If the mass is…

14Nov 2014 by Vincent Summers 3 Comments

Hydrogen Metal?

Chemistry

We're familiar with hydrogen as a gas, but hydrogen metal? Could it be that's what hydrogen is? [Artist's conception at right.] There are more than 100 substances listed in the Periodic Table of the Elements. This table is called "periodic" because, although each column is completely different, the properties of one row are very similar to the properties of the next. If you start on the left with an alkali metal, and you go through a row, you go to the next row and another alkali metal. An Anomaly Most of the alkali metals, such as lithium, sodium, and potassium, are very similar. They are soft, reactive, silvery solids. They have one outer electron and conduct electricity. They are easily cut with a knife. But, there is an exception –…

07Nov 2014 by Vincent Summers 4 Comments

What is a Hydronium Ion?

Chemistry

What is a hydronium ion? Water... Is there a more important or abundant liquid on the face of the earth? It possesses an amazing number of properties. It is essential to our very existence. Water is one of an extremely small number of substances (liquid ammonia is another) that expands and becomes lighter on freezing. Ice floats and forms an insulating, protective crust over underlying water. If ice sank rather and didn't float instead, the ponds and lakes of earth would completely freeze. All living things would die. Structure & Electrical Properties of Water Water's chemical formula is H2O. Occasionally it is written HOH or H–O–H. This way of writing the structure is convenient as long as one is aware of the shortcomings. Water is not a linear molecule. It…

21Aug 2014 by Vincent Summers No Comments

Cubane: The Chemist’s Toy?

Chemistry

Cubane is an organic hydrocarbon. It consists of carbon and hydrogen and is cubic in shape. It is a very curious substance, indeed. With no practical purpose in view, it was first prepared in 1964. There is an endless number of theoretical molecular possibilities in the world of organic chemistry. Some chemicals are simple. Others are complex. Some are of practical use to mankind. Some are mere toys of the intellect. Yes, adults must have their toys! Cubism "We do the difficult immediately. The impossible takes a little time." Chemists enjoy challenges. One challenge was to synthesize cubane (C8H8). It is a cut with a carbon atom at each corner. Attached to each of them is one hydrogen atom (see the image). Now carbon "prefers" to form angles of 109.5…

27Sep 2013 by Vincent Summers 3 Comments

Three Hydrogen Isotopes: Protium, Deuterium, Tritium

Chemistry, Physics

Elements are the building blocks of a chemist’s world. The first and simplest element is hydrogen, H. It is a gas at room temperature. A molecule of hydrogen gas consists of two joined atoms. However, we will discuss the lone atoms, which exist in three varieties: protium, deuterium, and tritium. All hydrogen atoms have an atomic number of 1. This means the central core or nucleus of any of the three varieties of hydrogen contains just 1 proton. All hydrogen atoms have 1 electron in an orbital outside the nucleus. What makes the three varieties different? The nucleus of hydrogen can include in addition to the proton, zero, one, or two neutrons. Protium Hydrogen without any neutron is protium. Hydrogen with one neutron is deuterium. Hydrogen with two neutrons is…