Question

The decreasing order of reactivity of different forms of hydrogen is:

• A. Atomic hydrogen = Nascent hydrogen > Molecular Hydrogen
• B. Nascent hydrogen > Atomic hydrogen > Molecular hydrogen
• C. Atomic hydrogen > Nascent Hydrogen > Molecular Hydrogen
• D. Molecular Hydrogen > Atomic Hydrogen = Nascent Hydrogen

Answer 1

The correct option is C

Atomic hydrogen > Nascent Hydrogen > Molecular Hydrogen

Although highly reactive, the Hydrogen-Hydrogen bond dissociation energy is the highest for any diatomic molecule. The highly reactive nature is because Hydrogen forms very stable bonds with many metals and non metals. Hence it does not exist in free state.

Atomic hydrogen can be isolated only at very extreme temperatures and it is the most reactive of the lot. Nascent hydrogen is very reactive but a bit less than the atomic variant.