Hydrogen
An element from the periodic table
Hydrogen
Hydrogen. The lightest element on the whole periodic table. But, its not the most interesting in my opinion. Never let it be said, though, that we shouldn't talk about hydrogen just because it doesn't hook you in. It is, after all, the first element on the periodic table.
The Character of Hydrogen
Hydrogen is a light, colorless, and odorless gas, you can't see it at all. Even if you could see it, it would just float with little to no movement. Hydrogen doesn't make a sound either, so don't expect to hear a snort or something when you think there's hydrogen in your presence. There really aren't any clues to hint that hydrogen is near you. Like I said, it's odorless, colorless, soundless and completely light, so you can't feel it.
The History of Hydrogen
How did hydrogen come to be in this world, you ask? Well that's what history is, how something came to be. Paracelsus (Pae-ra-sel-sis) a Swiss chemist found hydrogen when he mixed iron and sulfuric acid. The iron dissolved as a gas started to rise.. At first he just identified the gas as, "An air which bursts forth like the wind," then Lavoisier, another chemist, identified it as hydrogenium. The word hydrogen derives from hydrogenium. Now, That is how hydrogen has came to be today.
Hydrogen and Its Place on the Periodic Table of Elements
Hydrogen is the first element on the periodic table for a reason, and that reason is that its the lightest element. That is also why its atomic number is 1. Its also cheaper than helium, the second element on the periodic table, because it is lighter, and easier to find. Don't buy hydrogen for your balloons instead of helium, my friends, your balloon can set on fire! Hydrogen is highly flammable. Now, that is how to introduce hydrogen to a whole class.