Uses, &c. Pure and uncombined hydrogen is not employed in the arts. Inhalations of this gas have, however, been occasionally used in medicine. Dr Beddoes recommended them in phthisis. In combination, the uses of hydrogen are almost numberless. Combined with oxygen, it forms water; with chlorine, hydrochloric acid; with fluorine, hydrofluoric acid; with cyanogen, hydrocyanic acid; with carbon, innumerable hydrocarbons; with nitrogen, ammonia; with sulphur, sulphuretted hydrogen—in fact, an enumeration of the valuable compounds which it enters into would occupy many pages of this work. From its extreme lightness it has been used to fill balloons, but coal-gas is now commonly employed for this purpose. On its property of inflaming in contact with spongy platinum is arranged the popular little instrument for the production of instantaneous light (Dobereiner’s Lamp) sold by the philosophical instrument makers. The chemist avails himself of the great heat developed by its combustion in oxygen in the formation of the OXYHYDROGEN BLOWPIPE.
Some of the compounds of hydrogen are noticed below; the others under their respective names.
Hydrogen, Antimo′′niuretted. (SbH3.) Syn. Antimonetted hydrogen, Hydride of antimony, Stibamine; Hydrogenium antimoniatum, L. A gaseous compound of antimony and hydrogen, prepared by dissolving an alloy of antimony with a large excess of zinc in hydrochloric or dilute sulphuric acid. It has never been obtained pure, a variable proportion of free hydrogen being always present. It burns with a bluish-white flame, giving rise to dense fumes of teroxide of antimony, and when conducted through a red-hot tube, or the flame is thrown on a cold surface, as a porcelain plate, metallic antimony is deposited. This gas is a deadly poison when inhaled. See Arsenious acid.
Hydrogen, Arsen′′iuretted. (AsH3.) Syn. Arsenetted hydrogen, Hydride of arsenic, Arsenamine; Hydrogenium arseniuratum, L. A gaseous compound of arsenic and hydrogen.
Prep. Arsenide of zinc (made by fusing together equal weights of zinc and arsenic) is acted upon by strong hydrochloric acid or by sulphuric acid diluted with three parts of water.
Obs. This gas is produced whenever arsenious or arsenic acid, or any of their salts, is in presence of nascent hydrogen. The properties of arsenetted hydrogen are fully described in the tests for ARSENIOUS ACID. This gas is a deadly poison when inhaled.
Hydrogen, Car′buretted. Syn. Carbonetted hydrogen. This term is specially applied to two of the numerous compounds of carbon and hydrogen (CARBIDES OF HYDROGEN, HYDROCARBONS):—
1. Light Carburetted Hydrogen. (CH4.) Syn. Marsh gas, Fire-damp, Gas of the acetates. This is often abundantly disengaged in coal mines, and its combustion occasions those fearful explosions which are so destructive to human life. The mud at the bottom of stagnant pools, on being stirred, suffers bubbles of gas to escape, which, when collected and examined, are found to be a mixture of light carburetted hydrogen and carbonic acid. The latter is easily removed by passing the gas through a solution of caustic potassa or milk of lime.
Prep. (Dumas.) A mixture of acetate of soda (cryst.) and hydrate of potassa (dry), of each 2 parts, and quicklime (in powder), 3 parts, is strongly heated in a flask or retort. The gas in a state of absolute purity is disengaged in great abundance, and may be collected over water.
Prop. Colourless; neutral; nearly inodorous; burns with a yellow flame, producing pure water and carbonic acid; explodes when kindled in contact with air or oxygen.