Hydrogen Facts

Enjoy these cool hydrogen facts and learn more about the uses, properties and interesting
history behind the most commonly found element in the Universe.
Check out a wide range of information that covers everything from the chemical properties of
hydrogen to its use in the latest fuel cell car engine technology.

The chemical symbol of hydrogen is H. It is an element with atomic number 1, this means that 1 proton is found in
the nucleus of hydrogen.
Hydrogen is the lightest, simplest and most commonly found chemical element in the Universe, making up around
75% of its elemental mass.
Hydrogen is found in large amounts in giant gas planets and stars, it plays a key role in powering stars through
fusion reactions.
Hydrogen is one of two important elements found in water (H2O). Each molecule of water is made up of two
hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom.
In 1766, during an acid metal reaction, Henry Cavendish first formally recognized hydrogen. In 1781 he also
found that hydrogen produces water when burned. While Cavendish is usually given credit for the discovery of
hydrogen as an element, it had been produced by earlier scientists who were unaware of hydrogen as a unique
chemical element.
It wasnt until a few years later (1783) that hydrogen was given its name. The word hydrogen comes from the
Greek word hydro (meaning water) and genes (meaning creator).
Hydrogen gas has the molecular formula H2. At room temperature and under standard pressure conditions,
hydrogen is a gas that is tasteless, odorless and colorless.
Hydrogen can exist as a liquid under high pressure and an extremely low temperature of 20.28 kelvin (252.87C,
423.17 F). Hydrogen is often stored in this way as liquid hydrogen takes up less space than hydrogen in its
normal gas form. Liquid hydrogen is also used as a rocket fuel.
Under extreme compression hydrogen can also make a transition to a state known as metallic hydrogen.
Laboratory research into this area is ongoing as scientists continue efforts to produce metallic hydrogen at low
temperature and static compression.
Hydrogen is used to power a range of new alternate fuel vehicles. The chemical energy of hydrogen is converted
by a combustion method similar to current engines or in a fuel cell which produces water and electricity by
reacting hydrogen with oxygen.
Engineers and car manufacturers are researching the possibility of using hydrogen gas as an efficient and viable
car fuel. One of the possibilities involves storing hydrogen as a solid state in car fuel tanks. While there are many
challenges involved in this process it would allow for greater hydrogen storage in vehicles, allowing them to travel
for longer before refueling.
Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound with the molecular formula H2O2. It is often used as a hair bleach or
cleaner. At certain concentrations it can also be used to clean wounds.
Hydrogen was used for air travel from 1852 when the first hydrogen lifted airship was created by Henri Giffard.
Later airships that used hydrogen were called zeppelins and while they were reliable and safe for the majority of
the time their use was stopped soon after the Hindenburg disaster in 1937. The Hindenburg airship was destroyed
 in a midair fire over New Jersey that was both filmed and broadcast live on radio.
Hydrogen is commonly used in the petroleum and chemical industries and is also widely used for many physics
and engineering applications such as welding or as a coolant.
Hydrogen can be potentially dangerous to humans due to fires that can start when it is mixed with air, our inability
to breathe it in its pure oxygen free form and also in its extremely cold liquid state.

TORNADO FACTS
A tornado is a rapidly spinning tube of air that touches both the ground and a cloud above.
Tornadoes are sometimes called twisters.
Not all tornadoes are visible but their high wind speeds and rapid rotation often form a visible funnel of
condensed water.
The Fujita Scale is a common way of measuring the strength of tornadoes. The scale ranges from F0 tornadoes
that cause minimal damage through to F5 tornadoes which cause massive damage.
Most tornadoes have wind speeds less than 100 miles per hour (161 kilometres per hour).
Extreme tornadoes can reach wind speeds of over 300 miles per hour (483 kilometres per hour).
Most tornadoes travel a few miles before exhausting themselves.
Extreme tornadoes can travel much further, sometimes over 100 miles (161kilometres).
The Tri-State Tornado that travelled through parts of Missouri, Illinois and Indiana in 1925 left a path of
destruction over 219 miles (352 kilometres) long.
The Tri-State Tornado was the deadliest tornado in US history, killing 695 people.
The USA averages around 1200 tornadoes every year, more than any other country.
The majority of these tornadoes occur in a geographically unique area nicknamed Tornado Alley.
US States most often hit by tornadoes include Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma and Florida.
In 1989 the deadliest tornado ever recorded in the world killed around 1300 people in Bangladesh.
In the southern hemisphere tornadoes usually rotate in a clockwise direction.
In the northern hemisphere tornadoes usually rotate in a counterclockwise direction.
A tornado that occurs over water is often called a waterspout.
Weather radars are used to detect tornadoes and give advanced warning.
Basements and other underground areas are the safest places to seek refuge during a tornado. It is also a good
idea to stay away from windows.

FLOOD FACTS
A flood is the submerging of normally dry land by an overflow of water.
Depending on their type, floods can develop very slowly over time after extensive rains or in just a few minutes,
very quickly, without any sign of rain.
Floods can be a localised event affecting a small area of land or a very large disaster that can have an impact on
entire islands or river basins.
There are many types and ways floods can occur, including, due to overflowing rivers, due to extreme coastal
events, by natural or artificial ground saturation from excess rainfall, or by catastrophic failure in infrastructure.
River flooding is the most common type of flood event. If the flow rate exceeds the capacity of the river channel
then flooding of the surrounding area can occur.
Flash floods are extreme versions of a river flooding event. They can occur very quickly, often without warning
and with little or no excessive rainfall. Flash floods are the result of a river blockage either natural or artificial
(such as a landslide, glacier, or dam) giving way and releasing a massive amount of built up water.
 Areal or urban flooding occurs when low-lying impenetrable ground becomes saturated as rainfall cannot run off
as quickly as the accumulation of water. For example, on natural drought hardened or frozen farmland, or on
concrete paving.
Coastal and estuary flooding is caused by high sea tidal surges and waves that damage and infiltrate coastal
defences. Severe cases can be caused by tsunami, hurricanes or tropical cyclones.
With most cities and towns located at the coast or next to rivers, flood events can be major natural disasters,
causing loss of life and damage to land and property.
Floods can damage bridges, roads and other transport links. Infrastructure such as buildings, cars and houses can
be left saturated or completely taken by the waters. While sewage systems and power grids can be destroyed.
After floodwaters recede, land can be contaminated with hazardous material, such as building debris, fuel and
untreated sewage. Residents are often left without power or clean drinking water which can lead to outbreaks of
diseases.
Natural flooding of river plains and deltas each year are essential for farming in many areas of the world as the
waters bring nutrient rich silt deposits that create very fertile alluvial soils.
Many ancient communities relied heavily on the annual flooding of floodplain valleys on rivers such as The
Tigris-Euphrates, the Nile, and the Ganges.
The Yellow River (Huang He) in China has had the four deadliest flood events in world history. The floods of
1931 resulted in 1 to 4 million people being killed.
Today, advanced computer modelling allows authorities to predict where flooding is likely to occur and how
severe it will be.

HEALTH FACTS

It might only take you a few minutes to finish a meal but it takes your body around 12
hours before it has completely digested the food.
The human body needs iron to help perform a number of important functions. Iron
helps carry oxygen to parts of your body in the form of hemoglobin. Not having enough
can lead to iron deficiency and symptoms such as weakness and fatigue.
Examples of iron rich foods include red meat, fish, chick peas, tofu, beans and lentils.
Red blood cells are created inside the marrow of your bones, they serve the important
role of carrying blood around your body.
Antibiotics can be useful in fighting off bacteria but they are ineffective against
viruses, this is because bacteria and virus are completely different, both having unique
characteristics that need specialized treatments.
Viruses are usually around 100 times smaller than bacteria.
Around 7 million people die every year from food poisoning out of a total of around
70 million cases. Careful food preparation and storage is vital in order to avoid dangerous
toxins, viruses and bacteria.
Food allergies are fairly common amongst adults and even more so among children.
Around 2% of adults and 8% of children suffer from some type of food allergy where the
immune system makes a mistake and thinks a certain food protein is dangerous and
 attacks it. Well known food allergies can include unwanted reactions to gluten, seafood
and peanuts.
Access to clean drinking water can be taken for granted by people living in developed
countries. In poorer parts of the world the quality water and pollution can give rise to
dangerous diseases and bacteria such as cryptosporidium and e coli.
Obesity can increase the chances of developing diseases such as type 2 diabetes
and heart disease.
In recent times there has been a drop in the amount of physical activity both adults
and children do. Some of the reasons for this include new technologies that require less
physical labor and increased time watching TV. It has been suggested that at least 60% of
the worlds population doesnt do enough exercise.
In 2007, heart disease was the leading cause of death in the USA.
In 2007 around 13% of all deaths worldwide were caused by cancer. The branch of
medicine related to cancer study and treatment is known as oncology.
Infectious diseases such as AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis lead to around 26% of
worldwide deaths in 2002.