Wasser, Wasserstoff, Wasserstoffbrücke und mehr

Abstract

Hydrogen has the chemical symbol H and is number one in the periodic table of the elements, and special in other ways too. Today, hydrogen is more prominent than ever. No other energy-rich substance is better suited to replacing the fossil energy sources coal, oil and gas, which pollute the climate heavily through CO₂ emissions. This makes hydrogen an important element of the energy transition. Reason enough to introduce hydrogen in a short profile: the element, the H atom, H₂ molecule, ortho and para hydrogen. The difficult question of who discovered hydrogen is also discussed. Interestingly, hydrogen can be stored in gas hydrates, of all things in cages of the namesake water. The hydrogen atoms bound in functional groups are great bridge builders. Hydrogen bonds determine the structure and dynamics of water and biomolecules. And finally, hydrogen, which is colourless in itself, takes on a colour. The colour scale is determined by the production process of the hydrogen. Green is at the centre of the colour theory here, because only the electrolysis of water into hydrogen and oxygen with electricity from solar and wind energy really reduces CO₂.