Question

How does hydrogen react with the following? write the equation for each and give the experimental conditions.

(A) Sodium

(B) Sulphur

(C) Chlorine

Answer 1

(A) Reaction of Hydrogen with Sodium

• The reaction between sodium(Na) and hydrogen(H₂) forms yields sodium hydride.

$2\mathrm{Na}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\to \underset{\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{hydride}}{2\mathrm{NaH}}$

• It is a metal hydride formation reaction between active metal sodium(Na), and hydrogen(H₂).

(B) Reaction of Hydrogen with Sulfur

• On passing hydrogen (H₂) through boiling sulfur(S), we obtain hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) gas.

. ${\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+\mathrm{S}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)\to \underset{\mathrm{Hydrogen}\mathrm{sulfide}}{{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{S}\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}$

• It has the smell of rotten eggs.
• This gas is used in analytical work.

(C) Reaction of Hydrogen with Chlorine

• Hydrogen(H₂) combines with chlorine(Cl₂) violently, causing an explosion when the mixture is kept in bright sunlight.
• In diffused light, the reaction is slow and hydrogen chloride (HCl) is formed.
• Reactions that occur in the presence of sunlight are called photochemical reactions.

${\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+{\mathrm{Cl}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\to \underset{\mathrm{Hydrogen}\mathrm{chloride}}{2\mathrm{HCl}}$