THE BEECHMONT CREST SCIENCE ZONE
LEARNING THE CHEMICAL ELEMENTS
Hydrogen
Name origin: Greek hydro + genes = “water generator”
Symbol: H
Atomic number: 1
Atomic weight: 1.00794
-Hydrogen is the simplest element. The most common hydrogen isotope consists of a single proton and an electron.
-Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe.
-Pure hydrogen exists as a gas. Relatively little hydrogen gas is present in the earth’s atmosphere. However, there is a lot of hydrogen to be found in compounds like water.
-Hydrogen is typically diatomic: hydrogen molecules are composed of 2 atoms. Hydrogen gas is represented symbolically as H2.
-Hydrogen can form compounds either by giving away an electron or acquiring one.
