Scientists Question Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Yahoo News-AP Science ^ | September 08, 2003 | AP Science Staff

[Old Professer]

There is a school of thought that maintains the reason no free hydrogen molecules are found in the atmosphere is that they escaped long ago; just think, somewhere out there is a squadron of hydrogen molecules bearing down on another oxygen-rich planet, bent on destruction.

[RightWhale]

They are all excited over carbon nanotubes. Strange, but it looks like this could be huge and it won't be made in the USA. Our own tech and we're already SOL.

[Oztrich Boy]

Is there any reason this will not work?

Yep. to fire anything into the sun means you have to cancel the Earth orbital speed relative to the Sun of 30 km./s.
That's about twice the speed you would need to give your projectile if you wanted it to reach any star within 100 light years (other than the Sun).

[PeaceBeWithYou]

The H₂ molecule is roughly 1/2 the size of the He atom, and 1/2 the weight. The pic below will help your understanding.(I think)

H₂ Molecule ..... He Atom

[RightWhale]

The H atom is one of the biggest atoms. Oddly. But how about the H2 molecule?

[derlauerer]

The H atom is one of the biggest atoms.

Actually, according to The Chemistry WebElements Periodic Table, it's one of the smallest.

Check out the display about halfway down the page (select "Bar Chart", if that is not already displayed).

But how about the H2 molecule?

As far as I can see, the site has nothing to say about that. But it's a very useful site for referencing known atomic properties of the known elements.

[RightWhale]

Good website. Check out the H-H distance. It looks large compared to the molecular weight.

[PeaceBeWithYou]

Check out the H-H distance. It looks large compared to the molecular weight.

Of course. There's only 1 proton and no nuetrons in the H nucleus. As you move up to He, there are 2 protons 2 neutrons in the nucleus. The larger the atom the more crowded it gets inside and less space is available between bonded atoms in a molecule.

A H₂ molecule has 2x the mass of the H atom, but only half the mass and size of the He atom.

[RightWhale]

Check the link in post 26. Might be some surprises.

[farmfriend]

Thanks Tex.

Rights, farms, environment ping.

Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!

[jonatron]

Bttt:
I'll bet these guys at the lab were funded by someone in the oil business.

[PeaceBeWithYou]

I'll bet these guys at the lab were funded by someone in the oil business.

The burden of proof for that allegation is upon you and Consort. Without it, the allegation is an Ad Hominem smear not worthy of debate.

Put up or shut up.

[spunkets]

single bond covalent radii

H* => 0.028 nm
O* => 0.066 nm

H₂ dia. = 0.58 angstroms
O₂ dia. = 1.32 angstroms

[RightWhale]

There is a web site, webelements, that has a huge amount of that kind of data. It loads slow, maybe it's sunspots, or maybe it's all the html graphics.

[spunkets]

Apparently 0.028nm is good for H* in other covalent molecules. If it's H₂, then 0.0375 is used.

H₂ dia. = 1.5 angstroms
O₂ dia. = 2.64 angstroms(last post had 2X radii, should be 4X*r)

[spunkets]

Thanks.

"maybe it's sunspots"

Everything is dead slow here.

H₂ requires metal seals. Even with those seals atomic hydrogen forms, because a reletively loose bond forms between it and the metal surface. Most metals suck up atomic H. The atomic hydrogen then tends to walk along and through the nanoscale gaps in the seal. The practical consequences are significant. It can never be allowed to accumulate, else pops, booms and wreckage results.

[RightWhale]

Most metals suck up atomic H

They do. Platinum and palladium are particularly good. They are used in home gas lines to clean hydrogen out of the natural gas, otherwise as you say, there would be random combustive incidents in your furnace.

[Consort]

You missed my "maybe". Pay attention to what you read and don't try to tell other what they can or can not say. And no one wants to debate with you. Did I miss anything?

[DannyTN]

"I'll bet these guys at the lab were funded by someone in the oil business. "

I bet Saudi's. In fact, I think Saudi's would be stupid not to be funding every crackpot environmental group out there. And I bet if anyone ever looks they are.