Q 01/05

What is hydrogen's atomic number?

A) 2

B) 1

C) 3

D) 8

Answer · why

B) 1

Its symbol is H, and its most common isotope is nothing more than one proton and one electron.

Q 02/05

Roughly what share of all normal matter in the universe is hydrogen?

A) About 95%

B) About 25%

C) About 50%

D) About 75%

Answer · why

D) About 75%

By number of atoms rather than mass it is even more dominant, above 90%.

Q 03/05

Under standard conditions, hydrogen gas is made of molecules with which formula?

A) H

B) H3

C) H2

D) H4

Answer · why

C) H2

The official name is dihydrogen; the gas is colourless, odourless, non-toxic and highly combustible.

Q 04/05

Who identified hydrogen as a distinct substance between 1766 and 1781?

A) Robert Boyle

B) Antoine Lavoisier

C) Joseph Priestley

D) Henry Cavendish

Answer · why

D) Henry Cavendish

He suspected the gas was the mythical phlogiston itself and is usually credited with discovering the element.

Q 05/05

What does the name 'hydrogen' mean?

A) Water-former

B) Sky-stuff

C) Light-bringer

D) Fire-air

Answer · why

A) Water-former

It comes from the Greek hudor (water) and gennao (I bring forth), because burning it produces water.

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