Page 1
Hydrogen Cheat Sheet
Position in Periodic Table
Feature Hydrogen Alkali Metals Halogens
Position 1st element, Z=1,
1s¹
Group 1 (ns¹) Group 17 (ns²np 5)
Behavior Lose/gain 1 e ? Lose 1 e ? (M ?) Gain 1 e ? (X ?)
Properties Reducing agent,
forms halides (HCl),
diatomic (H 2)
Reducing agent,
halides (NaCl)
Electronegative,
diatomic (Cl 2), halides
Placement Separate (dual
nature)
Group 1 Group 17
Occurrence & Isotopes
? O c c u r r e n c e: 70% universe, 0.15% Earth atmosphere, 15.4% in
water/crust.
Page 2
Hydrogen Cheat Sheet
Position in Periodic Table
Feature Hydrogen Alkali Metals Halogens
Position 1st element, Z=1,
1s¹
Group 1 (ns¹) Group 17 (ns²np 5)
Behavior Lose/gain 1 e ? Lose 1 e ? (M ?) Gain 1 e ? (X ?)
Properties Reducing agent,
forms halides (HCl),
diatomic (H 2)
Reducing agent,
halides (NaCl)
Electronegative,
diatomic (Cl 2), halides
Placement Separate (dual
nature)
Group 1 Group 17
Occurrence & Isotopes
? O c c u r r e n c e: 70% universe, 0.15% Earth atmosphere, 15.4% in
water/crust.
Isotope Symbol Protons/Neutrons Abundance Applications
Protium ¹H 1/0 99.98% Fuel cells,
ammonia,
hydrogenation
Deuterium ²H (D) 1/1 0.015% Heavy water,
NMR, nuclear
fusion
Tritium ³H (T) 1/2 10 ?¹ 8% Nuclear
weapons,
self-powered
lighting
Properties
Type Property Details
Physical Density 0.089 kg/m³ (gas), 70.79 kg/m³ (liquid)
Boiling Point -252.76°C
Melting Point -259.16°C
State Gas (H 2, diatomic), colorless, odorless
Page 3
Hydrogen Cheat Sheet
Position in Periodic Table
Feature Hydrogen Alkali Metals Halogens
Position 1st element, Z=1,
1s¹
Group 1 (ns¹) Group 17 (ns²np 5)
Behavior Lose/gain 1 e ? Lose 1 e ? (M ?) Gain 1 e ? (X ?)
Properties Reducing agent,
forms halides (HCl),
diatomic (H 2)
Reducing agent,
halides (NaCl)
Electronegative,
diatomic (Cl 2), halides
Placement Separate (dual
nature)
Group 1 Group 17
Occurrence & Isotopes
? O c c u r r e n c e: 70% universe, 0.15% Earth atmosphere, 15.4% in
water/crust.
Isotope Symbol Protons/Neutrons Abundance Applications
Protium ¹H 1/0 99.98% Fuel cells,
ammonia,
hydrogenation
Deuterium ²H (D) 1/1 0.015% Heavy water,
NMR, nuclear
fusion
Tritium ³H (T) 1/2 10 ?¹ 8% Nuclear
weapons,
self-powered
lighting
Properties
Type Property Details
Physical Density 0.089 kg/m³ (gas), 70.79 kg/m³ (liquid)
Boiling Point -252.76°C
Melting Point -259.16°C
State Gas (H 2, diatomic), colorless, odorless
Type Property Details
Other Low solubility, high compressibility, thermal
conductivity
Chemical Combustion 2H 2 + O2 ? 2H 2O
Halogens H2 + X 2 ? 2HX (X = F, Cl, Br, I)
Nitrogen 3H 2 + N2 ? 2NH3 (873 K, 200 atm)
Hydrides Metallic (NaH), covalent (CH 4, NH 3)
Reducing Agent Reduces metal oxides, forms H ? in acids
Uses
Category Use
Industry Haber process (NH 3), hydrogenation (fats, oils), methanol
production
Energy Fuel cells, rocket fuel, nuclear fusion (deuterium, tritium)
Page 4
Hydrogen Cheat Sheet
Position in Periodic Table
Feature Hydrogen Alkali Metals Halogens
Position 1st element, Z=1,
1s¹
Group 1 (ns¹) Group 17 (ns²np 5)
Behavior Lose/gain 1 e ? Lose 1 e ? (M ?) Gain 1 e ? (X ?)
Properties Reducing agent,
forms halides (HCl),
diatomic (H 2)
Reducing agent,
halides (NaCl)
Electronegative,
diatomic (Cl 2), halides
Placement Separate (dual
nature)
Group 1 Group 17
Occurrence & Isotopes
? O c c u r r e n c e: 70% universe, 0.15% Earth atmosphere, 15.4% in
water/crust.
Isotope Symbol Protons/Neutrons Abundance Applications
Protium ¹H 1/0 99.98% Fuel cells,
ammonia,
hydrogenation
Deuterium ²H (D) 1/1 0.015% Heavy water,
NMR, nuclear
fusion
Tritium ³H (T) 1/2 10 ?¹ 8% Nuclear
weapons,
self-powered
lighting
Properties
Type Property Details
Physical Density 0.089 kg/m³ (gas), 70.79 kg/m³ (liquid)
Boiling Point -252.76°C
Melting Point -259.16°C
State Gas (H 2, diatomic), colorless, odorless
Type Property Details
Other Low solubility, high compressibility, thermal
conductivity
Chemical Combustion 2H 2 + O2 ? 2H 2O
Halogens H2 + X 2 ? 2HX (X = F, Cl, Br, I)
Nitrogen 3H 2 + N2 ? 2NH3 (873 K, 200 atm)
Hydrides Metallic (NaH), covalent (CH 4, NH 3)
Reducing Agent Reduces metal oxides, forms H ? in acids
Uses
Category Use
Industry Haber process (NH 3), hydrogenation (fats, oils), methanol
production
Energy Fuel cells, rocket fuel, nuclear fusion (deuterium, tritium)
Category Use
Chemistry HCl production, ore reduction, vanaspati fat
Other Welding, balloons, NMR (deuterium), lighting (tritium)
Tips for Solving
? P o s i t i o n: H resembles alkali metals (lose e ?) and halogens (gain
e ?).
? I s o t o p e s: Check neutrons: ¹H (0), ²H (1), ³H (2).
? P r o p e r t i e s: Memorize key reactions (H 2 + O 2, H 2 + X 2, H 2 + N 2).
Solved Examples
Example 1: Identify isotopes with 1 proton, 2 neutrons.
Protons=1, neutrons=2 ? ³H (Tritium).
Ans: Tritium.
Example 2: Why does H resemble halogens?
Both gain 1 e ? (H ?, Cl ?), diatomic, non-metallic, form halides.
Ans: Gains 1 e ?, diatomic, non-metallic.
Example 3: Reaction of H 2 with Cl 2.
H 2(g) + Cl 2(g) ? 2HCl(g).
Ans: 2HCl.
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