• Question: did you enjoy our chat, do you think hydrogen atoms are interesting?

    Asked by to Ben, Emily, Hattie, Jemma, Veronica on 20 Jun 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Jemma Rowlandson

      Jemma Rowlandson answered on 20 Jun 2014:

      Hello Rosie!

      Yes I did, the live chats have been really fun. Hydrogen is an awesome element! It is incredibly interesting because it quite literally everywhere, and it does so much.

      Hydrogen is the lightest element and it’s also the most common one in the entire universe. Almost three quarters of the universe is made up of hydrogen! Stars are actually made of hydrogen and it’s what gives them their power. The Sun’s energy comes from hydrogen atoms colliding at breakneck speed, releasing lots of energy and making helium (the gas that turns your voice squeaky).

      Hydrogen molecules (H2) also contain much more energy than petrol or diesel when you burn them. That’s why it is used to power space shuttles. If you look at a picture of a space shuttle on the launch pad, the great big orange tank is completely filled with liquid hydrogen! This is why we also want to put it into cars. You need much less hydrogen than you do diesel or petrol to power your car, it’s very clean as hydrogen cars only produce water as waste!

    • Photo: Ben Butler

      Ben Butler answered on 23 Jun 2014:

      Hi rosiemiller2508,

      The live chats have been brilliant. I’m gutted that I’ve missed a couple of them but the three that I’ve been at were really exciting. It’s great to see so many questions flying in so fast. I hope you’ve learnt a lot from the chats!

      As for hydrogen, I’d have to agree with Jemma… it’s pretty special! Jemma sums it up really well!

    • Photo: Emily Hayward

      Emily Hayward answered on 23 Jun 2014:

      Hi Rosiemiller2508,

      Yes I loved the live chat with you, and you as well as others in your class had some really great questions 🙂 Are you quite interested in science – you seem to be from your questions. Its great to enquire and find out about how everything works!

      Yes hydrogen atoms are really interesting – they are in so many different things…..on their own they can be a fuel, but they are also essential for many things we rely on such as water, oils, proteins, carbohydrates etc – much of our bodies and many of our foods hve lots and lots of hydrogen atoms in them….and its pretty coool that hydrogen can be used to get people into space! I think that the number of things hydrogen is in helps it to be interesting 🙂

    • Photo: Veronica Celorrio

      Veronica Celorrio answered on 23 Jun 2014:

      Hi there!

      I did enjoy the chat! you guys have really interesting questions that sometimes we forget to ask ourselfs

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