Grade 9 Study of first element- Hydrogen Dr.

Kovleen Sahni

Q1. What are the similarities between hydrogen and alkali metals.
Property Alkali metal Hydrogen
Electronic configuration 2,8,1 1
Valence electrons 1 1
Valency 1 1
Ion formation Na – 1 e- Na+ H – 1e- H+
Reducing power Na – 1 e- Na+ H – 1e- H+
CuO + 2Na Cu + Na2O CuO + H2 Cu + H2O
Burning 4Li + O2 2Li2O
2Na + O2 Na2O2 2H2 + O2 2H2O
K + O2 KO2
Action of air a. 4 Na + O2 2Na2O
b. Na2O + H2O 2NaOH
c. 2NaOH + CO2 Na2CO3
+ H2O
Combination with non metals Na2O, Na2S, NaCl H2O, H2S, HCl

Q2. What are the similarities between hydrogen and halogens.

Property Halogens Hydrogen
Electronic configuration 2,8,7- Cl 1
Valence electrons 7 1
Valency 1 1
Ion formation/ Cl + 1 e- Cl-1 H + 1e- H-
Electronegative character
Oxidising power Accept electrons and acts as Accept electrons and acts as
oxidising agents oxidising agents
Physical State Fluorine and chlorine are gases Hydrogen is a gas
Atomicity Diatomic molecules Diatomic molecules
Combination with non metals Na2O, Na2S, NaCl H2O, H2S, HCl
Grade 9 Study of first element- Hydrogen Dr. Kovleen Sahni
Q3. How are properties of hydrogen different from alkali metals and halogens?

Shells Hydrogen has one shell Alkali metals have two Halogens have two or
or more shells more shells
Oxides H2O is a neutral oxide Na2O and K2O are basic Cl2O and Cl2O7 are
oxides acidic oxides.

Q4. How is hydrogen prepared in the laboratory?

I. Reactive metals with cold water:
A. Potassium
1. Potassium floats on water.
2. It melts to form a silver grey globule that darts on the surface of water.
3. Reaction is highly exothermic.
2K + 2H2O 2KOH + H2
4. It catches fire and burns with a lilac flame.
5. Bubbles of hydrogen gas is formed.
6. The solution is soapy, colorless and alkaline.
7. Hydrogen burns with a pale blue flame but color of flame is lilac due to traces of potassium.
B. Sodium
1. Potassium floats on water.
2. It melts to form a silver grey globule that darts on the surface of water.
3. Reaction is less exothermic and less vigorous compared to K.
2Na + 2H2O 2NaOH + H2
4. It catches fire and burns with a golden yellow flame.
5. Bubbles of hydrogen gas is formed.
6. The solution is soapy, colorless, slightly warm and alkaline.
7. Sodium amalgam and potassium amalgam react smoothly with water. Hydrogen is prepared smoothly
from these amalgams.
C. Calcium
1. Calcium sinks in water.
2. Reaction is less vigorous than sodium.
Ca + 2H2O Ca(OH)2 + H2
3. Bubbles of hydrogen are liberated.
4. The solution turns milky, turbid and alkaline.
5. It turns red litmus blue.
Grade 9 Study of first element- Hydrogen Dr. Kovleen Sahni
II. Action of hot water on metals
A. Magnesium
1. Magnesium reacts slowly with boiling water.
2. It forms hydroxide and hydrogen.
Mg + 2H2O Mg(OH)2 + H2
3. With steam magnesium burns with intense white light liberating hydrogen gas and white ash i.e.
magnesium oxide.
B. Aluminium
1. It reacts with steam to liberate hydrogen.
2. It forms a passive layer of aluminium oxide that makes aluminium unreactive and stops further reaction.
2Al + 3H2O 8000C Al2O3 + 3H2
3. At high temperatures the coating breaks and hydrogen is released.
C. Zinc
1. It is even less reactive.
2. Reaction occurs when steam is passed over heated zinc.
Zn + H2O ZnO + H2
3. Zinc oxide is yellow when hot and white when cold.
D. Iron
1. Even less reactive than zinc.
2. Red hot iron reacts with steam to form tri ferric tetra oxide and hydrogen gas.
3. If hydrogen is not removed, the iron oxide formed is reduced back to iron as this reaction is reversible.
3 Fe + 4H2O ⇋ Fe3O4 + 4H2
Grade 9 Study of first element- Hydrogen Dr. Kovleen Sahni
Grade 9 Study of first element- Hydrogen Dr. Kovleen Sahni