Atomic Hydrogen and Nascent Hydrogen

 Molecular hydrogen or dihydrogen [H2]: Molecular hydrogen is formed by the combination

of two hydrogen atoms bonded together through a covalent bond( H-H) .It is also called
dihydrogen. H . + .H H. .H H-H
 Molecular hydrogen is formed when reactive metals displace hydrogen from dilute mineral
acids and exists as gas at room temperature. Zn + dil. H2SO4 ZnSO4 + H2
Atomic hydrogen [H]:
 An atomic hydrogen is one which contains one proton at its nucleus and one and one
electron in its K - shell. Due to this reason it has strong desire to combine with another
hydrogen by the sharing of electron resulting the formation of molecular hydrogen.
H. + .H H2 + 104 kcal

Preparation of Atomic Hydrogen:

 Atomic hydrogen is prepared by passing a stream of hydrogen gas at atmospheric pressure
through an electric arc struck between tungsten electrodes at about 2000-3000oC.
H2 H. + H. - 104 kcal
 Heat is also produced when some of the hydrogen burns with oxygen.
 Atomic hydrogen is strong reducing agent. It is more powerful reducing agent than
molecular and nascent hydrogen.
i. It reduces oxygen and carbon monoxide LEO = Loss of Electron Oxdn
O2 + 2H H2O2 GER= Gain of electron Redn
CO + 2H HCHO (formaldehyde)
ii. It reduces ethene to ethane
CH2= CH2 + 2H CH3 - CH3
iii. It reduces aqueous solution of H2O2, AgNO3, copper acetate
H2O2 + 2H 2H2O
AgNO3 + H Ag + HNO3
(CH3COO)2Cu +2H 2CH3COOH + Cu
iv. Metallic oxides and chlorides are reduced.
CuO + 2H Cu + H2O
HgCl2 + 2H Hg + 2HCl
FeCl3 + 3H Fe + 3HCl
Uses: Atomic hydrogen is used as reducing agent and in welding the metals.
 Nascent Hydrogen
 The term Nascent is derived from the Latin word Nascor meaning newly born.
 So a nascent hydrogen which is just formed by means of a chemical reaction. It is also
regarded as the hydrogen formed in contact to the substance to be reduced.
Zn + H2SO4 ZnSO4 + 2H
Fe + 2HCl FeCl2 + 2H
 It is a very short lived species so very quickly reacts with each other to form molecular
hydrogen. H. + .H H2
 Nascent hydrogen is more powerful reducing agent than molecular hydrogen which can be
prove by the following chemical reactions.
i.Reaction with acidified KMnO4:
 When molecular hydrogen obtained by reacting zinc with dil. Sulphuric is passed through
acidified solution of KMnO4 then pink colour of KMnO4 remain unchanged.
 Zn + H2 SO4 ZnSO4 + H2
KMnO4 + H2SO4 + H2 No rxn
 But Nascent hydrogen obtained by dropping a piece of Zn into acidified KMnO4 discharge
the pink colour of KMnO4 due to reduction caused by nascent hydrogen
Zn + H2SO4 ZnSO4 + 2H]x5
2KMnO4 + 3H2SO4 + 10[H] K2SO4 + 2MnSO4 + 8H2O

2KMnO4 + 8H2SO4 + 5Zn K2SO4 + 2MnSO4 + 5ZnSO4 + 8H2O

(pink) (Colourless)
ii. Reaction with acidified K2Cr2O7:
 Molecular hydrogen can not change the orange colour of acidified K2Cr2O7.
Zn + H2 SO4 ZnSO4 + H2
K2Cr2O7 + H2SO4 +H2 no rxn
 But nascent hydrogen obtained by dropping a piece of zinc into acidified K2Cr2O7turns
the orange colour of acidified K2Cr2O7 turns into green due to reduction caused by
nascent hydrogen.
Zn + H2SO4 ZnSO4 + 2[H]]x3
K2Cr2O7 +4H2SO4 + 6[H] K2SO4 + Cr2(SO4)3 + 7H2O
K2Cr2O7 + 7H2SO4 + 3Zn K2SO4 + Cr2(SO4)3 + 3ZnSO4 +7H2O
Orange Green
iii. Reaction with acidified FeCl3:
 When molecular hydrogen is passed through acidified solution of ferric chloride then yellow
colour of FeCl3 remained unchanged. Zn + 2HCl ZnCl2 + H2
 FeCl3 +HCl + H2 No rxn
 But when a piece of Zn is dropped into acidified solution of FeCl3 then yellow colour of FeCl3
turns green due to reduction of FeCl3 into FeCl2.
Zn + 2HCl ZnCl2 + 2[H]
FeCl3 + [H] FeCl2 + HCl]x2 H-Cl
2FeCl3 + Zn 2FeCl2 + ZnCl2
Relative Reactivity of Nascent Hydrogen :
Nascent hydrogen is more powerful reducing agent over molecular hydrogen due to following
reasons.
1. Nascent hydrogen is more energetic as it is associated with the excess energy that may
released during the formation of molecular hydrogen.
2. As nascent hydrogen is just formed by means of chemical reaction it is has high internal
pressure so more reactive than molecular hydrogen.
Differences Between Nascent and Atomic Hydrogen:
Nascent Hydrogen Atomic Hydrogen

1 It is prepared at ordinary temperature 1.It is prepared at high temperature of about

by the reaction of metals with acid, 3000 oC by dissociating H2 molecule.
alkali and water.
2 It is weaker reducing agent than atomic 2. It is stronger reducing agent than nascent
hydrogen hydrogen.
3 It can never be isolated. 3. Atomic hydrogen can be isolated.
4 It can't reduce metallic salts and oxides. 4. It can reduce certain metallic salts .
AgCl + H Ag + HCl
CdS + 2H Cd + H2S
CuO +2H Cu + H2O

Isotopes of Hydrogen:
 Isotopes are the atoms of same element which have same atomic number due to having
same number of electron but differ with each other in their mass number due to
difference in the number of neutrons .
 Due to having same number of electrons in their valence shell isotopes have similar
chemical properties but they differ with each other in their physical properties due to
difference in their atomic masses .
 Hydrogen exist in three different isotopic forms:
1 Protium or ordinary hydrogen (11H) or (P):
 This is the most abundance isotope of hydrogen(99.98%). It has only one electron in its
valence shell and one proton at its nucleus. It is most stable isotope of hydrogen.
 So its atomic number is 1 and mass number is also 1.
2.Deuterium or Heavy hydrogen(21H ) or (D):
 The natural abundance of this type of isotope is 0.014%. It is also called heavy hydrogen
and water containing such deuterium isotope is called heavy water(D2O).
 Deuterium has one electron in its orbit with one proton and one neutron at its nucleus.
 So its atomic number is 1 but mass number is 2 .
3. Tritium or radioactive hydrogen ( 13H) or (T):
 The natural abundance of this type of isotope is 7x10-16 %.
 Being radioactive in nature it emits β high speed electron) particles. Its half life is 12.5 years.
 Its atomic number is1 but mass number is 3. i.e electron =1, Proton=1 and Neutron =2
Applications Protium:
1.Used in NMR for specific studies.
2.To prepare nuclear weapon like H- bomb.
3.Used in hydrogenation and as reducing agent.
4.Used for the manufacture of rocket fuel as hydrazine(N2H4), NH3 and fertilizer.
5. Used in metrological observation balloons and toy balloons.
Applications of deuterium:
1.used as solvent in NMR spectroscopy.
2.To prepare nuclear weapon (H- Bomb)
3. To used as non radioactive tracer (Isotopic labelling expt)
4.Heavy water (D2O) is used as coolant in nuclear reactor.
Applications of Tritium:
1. Used in radioactive tracer analysis in research works.
2. Used as neutron initiator in nuclear reaction.
3. Used as fuel in nuclear fusion reaction.
4. Used as radio luminescent light sources in watches and instruments.
5. Used as rocket booster.
Applications of Hydrogen:
1. Hydrogen is used as source of fuel in the form of water gas (CO+H2). Water gas is
obtained by passing steam over red hot coke or recycled coke from waste. Hydrocarbons
can also be used in place of coke. C + H2O Heat CO + H2
CH4 + H2O HeatCatalyst
CO + H2
2. It is used for the production of synthetic fuel which is a liquid or sometimes gaseous fuel
which is manufactured solely by renewable energy. Liquid synthetic fuel is
gasoline(petrol),kerosene and diesel etc .
 C + CO2 + H2 CnH2n +2 + H2O
C + CO + H2 CnH2n +2 + H2O
It can be used as fuel in internal combustion engines either in pure form or in combination
with natural gas. It is non-conventional ,renewable and zero emission fuel. The combustion of
hydrogen water and energy .This released energy makes hydrogen as a source of fuel.
H2 + O2 H2O + 572kJ
There is no emission of harmful gas in combustion of H2 gas. Therefore H2 gas is used in fuel
cell and in internal combustion engine. Fuel cells are the energy conversion devices which can
change chemical energy into electrical energy. Commercially fuel cell devices like car, buses
have been begun since few decades . They can also be used in space craft. Addition of about
20% hydrogen to natural gas can reduce emission of CO2 gas. In terms of energy value 9.5 kg
H2 is equivalent to 25 kg gasoline (petrol).Use of hydrogen as a fuel has advantages like
reduction in air pollution as it produces nothing except water unlike gasoline,can reduce the
use of petroleum as a fuel,helps in the reduction of green house effect,has high energy
efficiency i.e H2 fuel cells have high energy conversion efficiency.
3. Used in hydrogenation of vegetable oil into solid fat.
4. Used to produce very high temperature for welding hard metals where mixture of H2
and O2 is used to produce high temperature of 3400OC.
Heavy Water [D2O]:
 Deuterium oxide is popularly known as heavy water. Ordinary water is found to contain
1/6000 parts of heavy water in it.
 Heavy water is obtained as a residue left after prolong electrolysis of ordinary water in
presence of alkali. When water is repeatedly electrolysed up to 7th stage ,about 99%
D2O is obtained.
 It can also be prepared by the fractional distillation of water where lighter fraction [H2O]
distilled over first leaving behind a residue richer in D2O.
 Heavy water is colourless,odourless and tasteless mobile liquid .
 Most of the physical properties of of D2O like M.P., B.P, specific gravity, viscosity, specific
heat dielectric constant etc. are higher than ordinary hydrogen.
 Heavy water is more inert than ordinary water. Deuteium bonding with D2O is stronger
than hydrogen bonding with H2O.
 Though D2O differs with H2O in its physical properties , its chemical properties are very
much similar to H2O.
 D2O Electtrolysis 2D2 + O2, D2O + Na NaOD + D2,D2O + SO3 D2SO4
 D2O + CaC2 Ca(OD)2 + C2D2, D2O + Mg3N2 Mg(OD)2 + ND3
 Heavy water is capable of forming deuterates similar to hydrates like CuSO4.5D2O,
MgSO4.7D2O,Na2SO4 .10D2O
Uses of heavy water:
1. It is used as moderator in nuclear reactor.
2. Used as coolant in nuclear reactor.
3. Used as tracer compound in determining the mechanism of many organic reactions.
4. Used for the preparation of deuterium i.e. heavy hydrogen.
5. Used in NMR and IR spectroscopy .