hydrogen

noun

hy·​dro·​gen ˈhī-drə-jən 

-dər-

: a nonmetallic gaseous chemical element with atomic number 1 that is the simplest and lightest of the elements and that is used especially in the processing of fossil fuels and the synthesis of ammonia

—often used before another noun

hydrogen gas

hydrogen atoms

a hydrogen vehicle

the hydrogen industry

see Chemical Elements Table compare deuterium, tritium

hydrogenous

hī-ˈdrä-jə-nəs 

adjective

Examples of hydrogen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These hydrogen isotopes will then combine through nuclear fusion, and in that process release neutrons. —Chris Baraniuk, WIRED, 27 Nov. 2024

The influx of crypto miners, along with increasing demand from data centers, hydrogen production facilities, and the electrification of oil and gas operations, has led ERCOT to predict that electricity demand in Texas could nearly double within six years. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2024

Air Products continues to focus on its core industrial gases business and clean hydrogen projects, with significant investments in these areas. —Quartz Bot, Quartz, 21 Nov. 2024

The refinery shut down on Dec. 21, 2022, when temperatures plunged 37 degrees in one hour, causing the refinery’s hydrogen plant to malfunction and leading to a series of equipment failures throughout the plant. —Noelle Phillips, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French hydrogène, from hydr- + -gène -gen; from the fact that water is generated by its combustion

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing hydrogen

• heavy hydrogen
• hydrogen bomb
• hydrogen bond
• hydrogen bromide
• hydrogen chloride
• hydrogen cyanide
• hydrogen fluoride
• hydrogen iodide
• hydrogen ion
• hydrogen peroxide
• hydrogen sulfide

Kids Definition

hydrogen

noun

hy·​dro·​gen ˈhī-drə-jən 

: a chemical element that is the simplest and lightest of all chemical elements and is normally found alone as a colorless odorless highly flammable gas having two atoms per molecule see element

hydrogenous

hī-ˈdräj-ə-nəs 

adjective

Etymology

from French hydrogène "hydrogen," from hydr- "water" and -gène "producer"; so called because when hydrogen gas burns, it combines with oxygen to produce water

Medical Definition

hydrogen

noun

hy·​dro·​gen ˈhī-drə-jən 

: a nonmetallic element that is the simplest and lightest of the elements and that is normally a colorless odorless highly flammable diatomic gas

—symbol H see deuterium, tritium Chemical Elements Table

hydrogenous

hī-ˈdräj-ə-nəs 

adjective