Of all the gases, hydrogen is the lightest. It is a colorless gas, that is extremely flammable, and only traces of it are found in the atmosphere. Hydrogen is synthesized from hydrocarbons (petroleum and petroleum by-products) and from water, where hydrogen is the lightest fraction of the H2O molecule.

Diverse Industrial Uses of Hydrogen

The most common uses of hydrogen are in the production of synthetic ammonia and methanol, petroleum refining, hydrogenation of organic substances, oxyhydrogen torches, and rocket fuel.

In the food and beverage industry, hydrogen is used in the hydrogenation of amines and fatty acids. During the production process of glass, it is used in the float glass process. Hydrogen is used in the heat treatment (oxyhydrogen flame) of hollow glass and optic fiber pre-forms. It is also used in the metal industry for the heat treatment of various metals.

In the world of electronics, hydrogen is used for the atmospheric reduction in microchips. Hydrogen being a carbon-free energy source is used in fuel cells by the automotive industry. Moreover, in laboratories, it is used as a carrier gas in gas chromatography.