| |
| Name: | Hydrogen |
| Symbol: | H or Cs |
| Atomic number: | 1 |
| Atomic weight: | 1 |
Hydrogen is a chemical element, number 1 on the periodic table. It is a nonmetal, in a class by itself as the most basic, and most abundant, atomic element in the known universe. Its atomic structure consists of one proton and one electron. Hydrogen has two isotopes, a heavy hydrogen known as deuterium and tritium.
Because of its abundance, ease of manufacture, and high energy release per atom, hydrogen is frequently used as a fuel in many forms of power generation, including methanol production, petroleum refining and rocket propulsion. However, its volatility also makes it highly combustible. On Earth, this was discovered after several tragedies in the 20th century involving airships being destroyed when their hydrogen tanks (used for buoyancy) ignited and exploded.
In 2151 Commander Tucker referred to the risky job astronauts did with the use of rockets: In the old days, astronauts rode rockets with millions of litres of hydrogen burning under their seats. You think they said, gee I'd love to go to the moon today but it seems a little risky?. (ENT: "Silent Enemy")
In 2367, the USS Enterprise-D released large quantities of hydrogen from their Bussard collectors to escape from a Tyken's Rift. The hydrogen, when combined with a Calendenium-analog being released from an unknown alien vessel, created an explosion violent enough to rupture the rift, freeing both ships. The explosion released more energy than the combined firepower of Enterprise-D's phasers and photon torpedoes. (TNG: "Night Terrors")
The Lothra are an hydrogen-breathing species. (DS9: "Melora")
The H2 molecule has a "threshold" of 14.7 electron-volts. (VOY: "Relativity") This is respectably close to the ionization energy of hydrogen, which is 13.6 eV per atom.
See also
- Bussard collector
- Hydrogen occurs in many forms and compounds:
- hydrogen sulfate (VOY: "Demon")
- hydrogen fluoride (DS9: "Improbable Cause")
- hydrogen sulfide (TNG: "Future Imperfect")
- hydrocarbons
- water (polywater)
- liquid hydrogen (TOS: "Assignment: Earth", TNG: "Coming of Age")
- hydrogen-alpha
References
- TOS:
- "The Alternative Factor" - The planet that Lazarus was on had an oxygen-hydrogen atmosphere
- "Metamorphosis" - The Companion's sensor readout read vaguely like a cloud of ionized hydrogen
- "The Gamesters of Triskelion" - Spock traces an ionization trail through a hydrogen cloud to help find the origin of the Provider transporter
- "Elaan of Troyius" - A Klingon cruiser tried to disguise itself on sensors as a hydrogen cloud reflection
- TNG:
- "The Naked Now"
- "Coming of Age"
- "Contagion"
- "Samaritan Snare"
- "Shades of Gray"
- "The Ensigns of Command"
- "Evolution"
- "Clues"
- "Future Imperfect"
- "Cost of Living"
- "Half a Life"
- "Imaginary Friend"
- "Rascals" - assigned an atomic weight of "01" on the Table of Elements
- "Masks"
- DS9:
- "Emissary"
- "Melora"
- "Second Sight"
- "Improbable Cause"