No, hydrogen is not a compound. A compound is a substance that is made up of two or more elements that are chemically combined. 1 Hydrogen is an element, which means that it cannot be broken down into any other substances by chemical means.
Well, this was just a simple answer. But there are few more things to know about this topic which will make your concept super clear.
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Key Takeaways: Is Hydrogen a Compound?
- Hydrogen is not a compound but an element that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.
- However, it can combine with other elements to form various compounds such as water, methane, ammonia, hydrochloric acid, ethanol, and acetic acid.
- Hydrogen is considered an element because it is a pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical reactions.
- Hydrogen is also not considered a mixture as it is a pure substance, while a mixture is a combination of two or more substances that can be separated by physical means.
Why is hydrogen not considered a compound?
Hydrogen is not considered a compound because it is an element, meaning it consists of only one type of atom. A compound, on the other hand, is a substance composed of two or more different elements chemically combined in a fixed proportion. 2
While hydrogen can combine with other elements to form compounds, it cannot be considered a compound itself. For example, when hydrogen combines with oxygen, it forms water, which is a compound. 3
The chemical formula for water is H2O, indicating that it contains two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Similarly, hydrogen can combine with carbon to form methane (CH4) and with nitrogen to form ammonia (NH3). 4 5
Therefore, while hydrogen is not considered a compound, it is an essential element and can play a vital role in the formation of various compounds.
Why is hydrogen considered as an element?
Hydrogen is considered an element because it is a pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by any chemical reaction. It consists of only one type of atom, which has a unique set of physical and chemical properties that distinguish it from other elements.
In the periodic table, hydrogen is the first element, with an atomic number of 1, indicating that it has only one proton in its nucleus. 6
It is the lightest and most abundant element in the universe, making up approximately 75% of its elemental mass. 7
Hydrogen also has some unique properties, such as its low atomic mass, high flammability, and ability to exist in three different isotopic forms, including protium, deuterium, and tritium. 8
These properties make it an essential element in many fields, including chemistry, physics, and engineering.
Why is hydrogen not considered a mixture?
Hydrogen is not considered a mixture because it is a pure substance, meaning that it consists of only one type of atom. A mixture, on the other hand, is a combination of two or more substances that can be separated by physical means. 9
For example, if hydrogen gas is mixed with oxygen gas, the resulting mixture is not hydrogen itself, but a combination of the two gases that can be separated by a physical process such as fractional distillation. 10
In contrast, hydrogen as an element cannot be separated into different substances by physical means, as it is a fundamental building block of matter.
Therefore, hydrogen cannot be considered a mixture, but rather an element that can combine with other elements to form compounds or mixtures.
Some common compounds that contain hydrogen
There are many common compounds that contain hydrogen, as hydrogen is a highly reactive element that can readily combine with other elements to form a variety of compounds. Some examples of common compounds that contain hydrogen include:
- Water (H2O) – the most abundant and essential compound on Earth, which consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. 11
- Methane (CH4) – a colorless, odorless gas that is the primary component of natural gas and is used as a fuel source. 12
- Ammonia (NH3) – a colorless gas that is used in the production of fertilizers, as a cleaning agent, and as a refrigerant. 13
- Hydrochloric acid (HCl) – a strong, corrosive acid that is used in the production of PVC, in the pickling of steel, and in the digestion of food in the stomach. 14
- Ethanol (C2H5OH) – a colorless, flammable liquid that is used as a fuel, solvent, and in the production of alcoholic beverages. 15
- Acetic acid (CH3COOH) – a weak acid that is used in the production of plastics, textiles, and photographic films, as well as in the production of vinegar. 16
These are just a few examples of the many common compounds that contain hydrogen.
Further reading
Why is Hydrogen Flammable?
Does Hydrogen have Neutrons?
Is Helium Flammable?
Why Is Helium a Noble Gas?
Why is Hydrogen a Nonmetal?
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References
- purdue.edu https://www.chem.purdue.edu/gchelp/atoms/elements.html
- 5.1: Elements Combine to Form Compounds. (2020, December 20). Chemistry LibreTexts. https://chem.libretexts.org/Courses/Anoka-Ramsey_Community_College/Introduction_to_Chemistry/05%3A_Chemical_Nomenclature/5.01%3A_Elements_Combine_to_Form_Compounds
- Scientists discover new way to make water | Chemistry at Illinois. (n.d.). Scientists Discover New Way to Make Water | Chemistry at Illinois. https://chemistry.illinois.edu/news/2007-12-31/scientists-discover-new-way-make-water
- ShieldSquare Captcha. (n.d.). ShieldSquare Captcha. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/ac51d1/pdf
- Reiners, M., Baabe, D., Münster, K., Zaretzke, M. K., Freytag, M., Jones, P. G., Coppel, Y., Bontemps, S., Rosal, I. D., Maron, L., & Walter, M. D. (2020, June 29). NH3 formation from N2 and H2 mediated by molecular tri-iron complexes. Nature Chemistry, 12(8), 740–746. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-020-0483-7
- P. (n.d.). Hydrogen | H (Element) – PubChem. Hydrogen | H (Element) – PubChem. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/element/Hydrogen
- Nationalgrid. https://www.nationalgrid.com/stories/energy-explained/what-is-hydrogen
- DOE Explains. . .Deuterium-Tritium Fusion Reactor Fuel. (n.d.). Energy.gov. https://www.energy.gov/science/doe-explainsdeuterium-tritium-fusion-reactor-fuel
- Pure substances and mixtures – Elements, compounds and mixtures – Eduqas – GCSE Chemistry (Single Science) Revision – Eduqas – BBC Bitesize. (n.d.). BBC Bitesize. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zyvnrwx/revision/1
- Nist.gov https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/jres/26/jresv26n3p227_a1b.pdf
- Water is the most abundant,. (n.d.). Water Is the Most Abundant,. https://intro.chem.okstate.edu/1014/Lecture/Water1.html
- Importance of Methane | US EPA. (2016, January 11). US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/gmi/importance-methane
- From Fertilizer to Fuel: Can ‘Green’ Ammonia Be a Climate Fix? (n.d.). Yale E360. https://e360.yale.edu/features/from-fertilizer-to-fuel-can-green-ammonia-be-a-climate-fix
- How does the stomach work? – InformedHealth.org – NCBI Bookshelf. (2016, August 21). How Does the Stomach Work? – InformedHealth.org – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279304/
- Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, I. W. (1988, January 1). Chemical Composition of Alcoholic Beverages, Additives and Contaminants – Alcohol Drinking – NCBI Bookshelf. Chemical Composition of Alcoholic Beverages, Additives and Contaminants – Alcohol Drinking – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK531662/
- Vinegar – Wikipedia. (2020, March 4). Vinegar – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinegar
