Hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant element in the universe, existing primarily as a colorless, odorless gas with the molecular formula H₂. First identified as a distinct substance in 1766 by Henry Cavendish and later named by Antoine Lavoisier from the Greek words meaning “water-former,” hydrogen makes up approximately 75% of all normal matter in the universe by mass. This remarkable element forms the fuel that powers stars through nuclear fusion, serves as the essential building block for water and organic compounds, and holds immense promise as a clean energy carrier for the future. Despite being the simplest atom with just one proton and one electron, hydrogen’s unique properties – from its ability to form bonds with nearly every element to its potential to replace fossil fuels – make it one of the most important and versatile elements in chemistry, industry, and the emerging green economy.

Find a review of the 50 most important industrial gases here.

20 Fun Facts About Hydrogen

Beyond the basics above, what else should we know about Hydrogen? Check out the 20 fun facts below!

1. Hydrogen molecules vibrate 1.3 × 10¹⁴ times per second, faster than any other molecule due to their incredibly light mass.
2. The gas is 14.4 times lighter than air, enabling the first manned flight in 1783 using a hydrogen balloon in Paris.
3. Hydrogen can diffuse through solid metals, embrittling steel and even leaking through intact metal containers over time.
4. At extreme pressures (495 GPa), hydrogen becomes metallic and conducts electricity, possibly existing in Jupiter’s core.
5. The Hindenburg contained 200,000 cubic meters of hydrogen, which burned completely in just 37 seconds during the disaster.
6. Hydrogen burns with an invisible flame in daylight, requiring special UV detectors or “brooms” to locate leaks safely.
7. The universe will run out of hydrogen fuel for star formation in approximately 10¹⁴ years, beginning the “Dark Era.”
8. Liquid hydrogen at -253°C is less dense than Styrofoam, with a density of only 71 kg/m³.
9. Hydrogen forms more compounds than any other element, despite having only one electron to share.
10. The spin states of hydrogen nuclei in molecules create “ortho” and “para” forms with different properties.
11. Hydrogen fuel cells powered the Apollo spacecraft, producing electricity and drinking water for astronauts simultaneously.
12. The element can tunnel through energy barriers quantum mechanically, enabling reactions that classical physics says are impossible.
13. Hydrogen bonds, though individually weak, collectively give water its unusually high boiling point and enable DNA’s double helix.
14. The Sun converts 600 million tons of hydrogen to helium every second, losing 4 million tons as pure energy.
15. Hydrogen has the highest energy content per weight of any fuel – 142 MJ/kg versus gasoline’s 46 MJ/kg.
16. The proton (hydrogen nucleus) is so stable its half-life exceeds 10³⁴ years, outlasting the universe itself.
17. Tritium (hydrogen-3) glows continuously due to radioactive decay and costs $30,000 per gram to produce.
18. Hydrogen sulfide in natural gas must be removed because it poisons fuel cell catalysts at just 1 part per billion.
19. The Bosch-Haber process consumes 1% of world energy production converting hydrogen to ammonia for fertilizer.
20. Scientists can now see individual hydrogen atoms using scanning tunneling microscopes, appearing as fuzzy clouds 0.1 nanometers wide.

Thanks for reading!