What is Hydrogen

Hydrogen is the simplest element known to man. Each atom of hydrogen has only one proton. It is also the most plentiful gas in the universe. Stars are made primarily of hydrogen.

The sun is basically a giant ball of hydrogen and helium gases. In the sun's core, hydrogen atoms combine to form helium atoms. This process—called fusion—gives off radiant energy.

This radiant energy sustains life on earth. It gives us light and makes plants grow. It makes the wind blow and rain fall. It is stored as chemical energy in fossil fuels. Most of the energy we use today came from the sun's radiant energy.

Hydrogen gas is lighter than air and, as a result, it rises in the atmosphere. This is why hydrogen as a gas (H₂) is not found by itself on earth. It is found only incompound form with other elements. Hydrogen combined with oxygen, is water (H₂O). Hydrogen combined with carbon, forms different compounds such as methane (CH₄), coal, and petroleum. Hydrogen is also found in all growing things—biomass. It is also an abundant element in the earth's crust.

Hydrogen has the highest energy content of any common fuel by weight(about three times more than gasoline), but the lowest energy content by volume (about four times less than gasoline). It is the lightest element, and it is a gas at normal temperature and pressure.

Last Reviewed: October 2008 
Sources: Energy Information Administration, The Impact of Increased Use of Hydrogen on Petroleum Consumption and Carbon Dioxide Emissions, August 2008.
Energy Information Administration, Alternatives to Traditional Transportation Fuels 2006, May 2008.
The National Energy Education Development Project, Intermediate Energy Infobook, 2005.