9781422279472

energy from the sun and water to survive. Without hydrogen, life as we know it could not exist. Beyond helping to provide life, hydrogen is a key part making that life more livable. Hydrogen is an important component of plastic, gas- oline, and fertilizer. It holds DNA and most other molecules in living cells together. Hydrogen can also provide energy. Liquid hydrogen propels rockets into space. Natural gas, a very important fuel for heat- ing, power plants, and more, contains hydrogen bonded with carbon to form a gas called methane. A hydrogen fuel cell is a battery-like device. It could help power electric cars, taking the place of an internal combustion engine. These fuel cell cars emit only water vapor in place of toxic, smelly exhaust. Hydrogen could also store energy for later use. Extra electricity from power plants or renewable energy sources could go towards produc- ing hydrogen, which could then be converted back into electricity in a fuel cell. Many believe that hydrogen is the fuel of the future.

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The Chemistry of Everyday Elements