[Manly Warrior]

Wait a sec- we have H, H2 (some H3 probably) and O, O2, O3, and H2O floating around in our atmosphere, why is it not all combined into H2O)? Surely our atmosphere is not saturated with H2O ( meaning 100% relative humidity) and the rest is just excess components.

Oh, that’s right, it requires a catalyst ( a reason) to combine.

Will random H and O in space ( isn’t it a vacuum- meaning pretty much empty of gaseous matter) combine spontaneously? I doubt it.
Is gaseous matter like H and O and N etc not found primarily(perhaps exclusively) in atmospheres surrounding gravitationally massive bodies?

If there is no catalyst (energy) to initiate the H+H+O reaction and w/o H and O in proper ratios, won’t it just hang out and be happy independent atoms/molecules?

Somethings got to “cause” any and all actions/reactions, no?

[Technocrat]

There is (virtually) no free H in our atmosphere - we get lucky and have a lot of excess O2. Any free H turns an into water almost immediately. Even at 100$ humidity, the H and O would still combine. heat their surroundings, rise, and then precipitate. 2H2(g) + O2(g) → 2H2O(g) + energy