Hydrogen+Cell+Power

** Hydrogen is the simplest element. An atom of hydrogen consists of only one proton and one electron. It's also the most plentiful element in the universe. Hydrogen is simple and abundant but doesn't happen naturally. It's always combined with other elements. For example, water is a combination of hydrogen and oxygen [2]. Hydrogen can be found in many organic compounds, such as // hydrocarbons // that make up many of our fuels such as gasoline, natural gas, methanol, and propane. Hydrogen can be separated from hydrocarbons through the process of // reforming // from an application of heat. Currently, most hydrogen is made this way from natural gas. An electrical current can also be used to separate water into its components of oxygen and hydrogen. This process is known as // electrolysis //. Some algae and bacteria use sunlight as their energy source and give off hydrogen under certain conditions. It is clear that there is much hydrogen in the world [2]. When used as fuel, hydrogen is environmentally friendly and gives off almost no pollution yet remains high in energy. NASA has used liquid hydrogen since the 1970s to propel the space shuttle and other rockets into orbit. Hydrogen fuel cells power the shuttle's electrical systems, producing a clean byproduct [2]. ** [6] NASA has used liquid hydrogen since the 1970s to propel the space shuttle and other rockets into orbit [2]. What is a Hydrogen fuel cell ** In hydrogen there are many fuel cells. A fuel cell can generate electricity by chemical reactions. A fuel cell carries negative and positive electrons. The fuel for fuel cells is hydrogen [5].
 * Hydrogen For the Future ** By Audrey Kirwan + Sebastien Ridore
 * What is Hydrogen? **

media type="youtube" key="OYG0jYEvrEQ" width="425" height="350"​ A video about how hydrogen fuel cells work.

Is It a Good Source of Energy? Hydrogen is a very good source of energy. It gives plenty of energy and pollutes very little and like electricity, hydrogen is a secondary source of energy. It stores and carries energy produced from other resources such as fossil fuels, water and biomass [1]. **

**What About the Future?** In the future, hydrogen could also join electricity as an important energy carrier. An energy carrier moves and delivers energy in a usable form to consumers. Renewable energy sources such as sun and wind can't produce energy all the time. But they could produce electric energy and hydrogen which can be stored until it's needed. Hydrogen can also be transported like electricity until it is needed. Right now, hydrogen fuel cells (batteries) make electricity but although they are very efficient, they are very expensive too. In the future the price could go down [1].

media type="youtube" key="XzeCQblYHic" width="425" height="350" The story about Boeing's first aircraft flown by hydrogen fuel cell power


 * The Advantages and Disadvantages of Hydrogen Cell Power **


 * Advantages: **
 * Hydrogen fuel is a non-polluting fuel.
 * When hydrogen fuel is burned, it recombines with oxygen to make water, therefore continuing the cycle [4].
 * The waste and heat of the cell can be used making it very efficient
 * It gives plenty of energy and is a secondary source of energy.
 * It stores and carries energy produced from other resources such as fossil fuels, water and biomass [1].


 * Disadvantages: **
 * Hydrogen is not as efficient as gasoline or propane.
 * The cost of hydrogen is much more and they need transportation and storage.
 * Also, in some cases it can be bad for the environment because it traps heat gases [4].


 * Compromise: **
 * Scientist are trying to get hydrogen in multiple ways. Electrolysis is one of the ways and it works by splitting water into its three main components.
 * Other ways are by getting hydrogen from the sun and also from coal.
 * Scientist are also trying to get pure hydrogen that doesn't pollute by producing it.
 * Scientist say that soon, hydrogen fuel cells will be a big competitor in the future [4].

Hydrocarbons - Hydrogen can be found in many organic compounds such as hydrocarbons which make up many of our fuels such as gasoline, natural gas, methanol, and propane [2]. **
 * Vocabulary :
 * Electrolysis **- Electrolysis is when an electrical current can be used to separate water into its components of oxygen and hydrogen. It causes no emissions but is expensive [2].
 * Steam reforming **** - Steam reforming is currently the least expensive method of producing hydrogen. This method is used in industries to separate hydrogen atoms from carbon atoms in methane. The only problem is that the steam reforming process results in greenhouse gas emissions that are linked to global warming [1]. **
 * Energy carriers **- Energy carriers move energy in a usable form from one place to another. Electricity is the most well-known energy carrier [1].
 * Anode -**The name of a negative electron [5].
 * Cathode -** The name of a positive electron [5].
 * Alkali -**They are efficient fuel cells and are one of the the fuel cells that NASA uses; 70% efficient and provides drinking water for the astronauts [5].

[3] ** People have been currently working on products such as cars and planes that run on hydrogen cell power. This is a picture of a car that runs on hydrogen cell power. **

​ ** "Hydrogen Taxi Cabs to Serve London By 2012 Olympics " ** [] How hydrogen will change people's lives by 2012 [7].

** Creating Hydrogen In a Few Ways : **  **Conservation of Energy: 1. Currently, hydrogen is made from natural gas through a process called reforming which was identified in step 1. 2. An electrical current can be used to separate water into its components of oxygen and hydrogen through electrolysis as stated in step 2. ** 3. Some algae and bacteria use sunlight as their source to give off hydrogen under certain conditions that was written in step 3 [2].
 * 1) One way to get hydrogen is to separate hydrogen from hydrocarbons through a process of reforming from an application of heat. Currently, hydrogen is made this way from natural gas.
 * 2) An electrical current can also be used to separate water into its components of oxygen and hydrogen and this process is called electrolysis.
 * 3) Some algae and bacteria use sunlight as their source. They give off hydrogen under certain conditions.
 * 4) In conclusion, there is much hydrogen in the world and many ways to get it [2].

**Footnotes:** 1. __Energy Sources: Hydrogen__. U.S Energy Information Administration. 5 April, 2010. . [1] 2. __Hydrogen Energy__. 2010. Renewable Energy Network. 5, April 2010. . [2] 3. picture citation: [|flickr.com/photos/ 29233640@N07/3708424709] [3] 4. __The New Book of Popular Science__. 2006. Scholastic Library Publishing, INC. 5 April, 2010. [4] 5. __Energy__. 2007. An Imprint of Infobase Publishing. 6, April 2010. [5] 6. picture citation: [] [6] 7. article citation: [] [7]