Hydrogen oxide: obtaining and properties

The most important and widespread substance on our planet, of course, is water. What can be compared to her in importance? It is known that life on Earth became possible only with the advent of fluid. What is water (hydrogen oxide) from the chemical point of view? What does it consist of and what properties does it have? Let's try to understand this article.

Hydrogen and its compounds

The lightest atom in the entire periodic system is hydrogen. It also occupies a dual position, located both in a subgroup of halogens, and the first group of alkali metals. What explains such features? The electronic structure of the shell of its atom. He only has one electron, which can freely leave and join one another, forming a pair and completing the outer level.

That is why the main and only oxidation states of this element are +1 and -1. It easily interacts with metals, forming hydrides - solid, non-volatile salt-like compounds of white color.

However, hydrogen also easily forms volatile molecules of substances, interacting with nonmetals. For example:

• Hydrogen sulphide H ₂ S;
• Methane CH ₄ ;
• Silane SiH ₄ and others.

In general, hydrogen forms a lot. However, the most important substance in which it enters is hydrogen oxide, the formula of which is H ₂ O. This is the most famous compound, which even a student of primary classes, who is not yet familiar with chemistry, learns from the formula. After all, water (and this is the highest hydrogen oxide ) is not only a common substance, but also a source of life on our planet.

The very name of the element reflects its main essence - hydrogen, that is, "giving birth to water". Like any other oxide, this is also a binary compound with a number of physical, chemical properties. In addition, there are special characteristics that distinguish water from all other compounds.

Also an important class of compounds that form hydrogen are acids, both organic and mineral.

Chemical properties of hydrogen

From the point of view of chemical activity, hydrogen is a fairly strong reducing agent. In many reactions, he exhibits just such properties. However, when interacting with even stronger metals, it becomes an oxidizer.

Very important in industry is the interaction of hydrogen with metal oxides. After all, this is one of the ways to obtain the latter in its pure form. Hydrodynamics is a metallurgical method for the synthesis of pure metals from their oxides by reduction with hydrogen.

The reaction of hydrogen with the oxide has the following general form: Me _x O _y + H ₂ = H ₂ O + Me.

Of course, this is far from the only way to synthesize pure metals. There are others. However, the reduction of oxides by hydrogen is an energetically rather profitable and uncomplicated production process, which has found its wide application.

Another interesting feature is that when hydrogen is mixed with air, hydrogen can form a highly explosive mixture. Its name is explosive gas. To do this, mixing should be done by calculating two volumes of hydrogen per oxygen.

Water - hydrogen oxide

The fact that this oxide is very important, we have already mentioned several times. Now let's characterize it from the point of view of chemistry. Does this compound really belong to this class of inorganic substances?

To do this, try a little different way to write down the formula: H ₂ O = NON. The essence is the same, the number of atoms is the same, however, it is now obvious that we have hydroxide in front of us. What properties should he have? Consider the dissociation of the compound:

HN = H ⁺ + OH ^- .

Consequently, the properties are acidic, since hydrogen ions are present in the solution. In addition, they can not be basic, since alkalis form only metals.

Therefore, another name that has hydrogen oxide is an oxygen-containing acid of the simplest composition. Once such complex entanglements are characteristic of a given molecule, therefore, its properties will be special. And the properties repel the structure of the molecule, so we will disassemble it.

The structure of the water molecule

For the first time about this model, Nils Bohr thought, he owns the primacy and authorship in this matter. He had the following features.

1. The water molecule is a dipole, since the elements in its composition differ greatly in the value of electronegativity.
2. Its shape is triangular, at the base - hydrogen, and at the top - oxygen.
3. Due to this structure, this substance is able to form hydrogen bonds, both between the same molecules and with other compounds that have a strongly electronegative element in the composition.

To see how the hydrogen oxide under consideration looks schematically, you can see in the photo below.

Physical properties of hydrogen oxide

Several basic characteristics can be identified.

1. Aggregate state: gaseous - vapor, liquid, solid - snow, ice.
2. The boiling point is 100 ^° C (99.974).
3. The melting point is 0 ^° C.
4. Water can compress with heating in the temperature range from 0-4 ⁰ C. This explains the formation of ice on the surface, which has a lower density and preservation of life under the thickness of hydrogen oxide.
5. High heat capacity, but very low thermal conductivity.
6. In the liquid state of hydrogen, the oxide exhibits a viscosity.
7. A special property can be called surface tension and the formation of a negative electrical potential on the water surface.

As we noted above, the features of the properties depend on the structure. So it is here. The ability to form hydrogen bonds led to similar features of this compound.

Hydrogen oxide: chemical properties

From the point of view of chemistry, the activity of water is high enough. Especially when it comes to reactions accompanied by heating. What is hydrogen oxide capable of interacting with?

1. With metals, which stand in the series of stresses up to hydrogen. At the same time, with the most active (to aluminum) special conditions are not needed, and those with a lower reducing ability react only with steam. The same ones that stand after hydrogen, are not at all capable of entering into such interactions.
2. With nonmetals. Not with everyone, however with the majority. For example, in a fluorine atmosphere, water burns with a violet flame. Also, the reaction is possible with chlorine, carbon, silicon and other atoms.
3. With metal oxides (basic) and acid (nonmetals). Accordingly, alkalis and acids are formed. Among the metals, the representatives of the first two groups of main subgroups, except magnesium and beryllium, are capable of such reactions. Non-metals, forming acid oxides, interact with water all. The exception is river sand - SiO ₂ .

The following reaction can be cited as an example of the reaction of hydrogen oxide: SO ₃ + H ₂ O = H ₂ SO _4.

Distribution in nature

We have already found out that this substance is the most common in the world. Denote the percentage in the objects.

1. About 70% of the body weight of humans and mammals. Some fauna representatives consist of about 98% hydrogen oxide (jellyfish).
2. 71% of the Earth is covered with water.
3. The greatest mass is the water of the World Ocean.
4. About 2% is contained in glaciers.
5. 0.63% is concentrated under the ground.
6. 0,001% falls on the atmosphere (fog).
7. The body of plants consists of 50% of water, some even more.
8. Many compounds are found in the form of crystalline hydrates containing bound water.

Continue this list for a long time, because it is difficult to remember anything that does not include water or once was not included. Or it was formed without the participation of this oxide.

Methods of obtaining

The production of hydrogen oxide is of no industrial importance. It is easier to use ready-made sources - rivers, lakes and other water bodies, than to spend a huge amount of energy and reagents. Therefore, in the laboratory it is only necessary to obtain distilled, extra pure water.

For this purpose, certain apparatuses, such as distillation cubes, are used. Such water is necessary for many chemical interactions, since the crude contains a large amount of foreign impurities, salts, ions.

Biological role

To say that water is used everywhere, do not say anything. It is inconceivable to imagine your life without this connection. From the very morning until night, people constantly use it for both domestic and industrial purposes.

The properties of hydrogen oxide means its use as a universal solvent. And not only in the laboratory. But in living beings, where thousands of biochemical reactions take place every second.

Also, water itself is a participant of many syntheses, it also serves as a by-product formed as a result of them. Each person on Earth for 60 years passes through himself about 50 tons of this amazing substance!

Hydrogen oxide is used:

• In all branches of industry;
• Medicine;
• Chemical synthesis;
• In all types of productions;
• Household needs;
• Agriculture.

It is difficult to determine the area of life in which you can do without water. The only living beings that do not have hydrogen oxide in their composition and live without it are viruses. That's why it's hard for a person to fight against these organisms.