Today in science class we were examining vials of different elements and compounds. My friend, being the joker he is, took the vial labeled hydrogen gas and opened it. It wasn't that big, and my face was a few feet away from the vial, but I'm just wondering if I'm going to suddenly explode without warning.

 

I haven't even written my will yet!

 

Thanks for the help.

Stop worrying, you are perfectly safe.

The hydrogen would have dissipated in seconds, it's very light and doesn't hang about.

Also, do you think your friend was the first one to do this?

, and my face was a few feet away from the vial, but I'm just wondering if I'm going to suddenly explode without warning.

 

 

Could have been worse if you were lighting up a cigarette.

Thanks. I'm beginning to realize I'm a rather jittery person...

I remember my 8th grade science teacher demonstrating manufacture of hydrogen and capturing a test tube full to explode on a bunson burner. Usually it just makes a loud pop with a flash of light but that time the test tube exploded with enough force to send pieces to every corner of the room. Fortunately everyone was wearing lab coats and safety goggles and she was the only one to recieve a small cut on the cheek. You really need something hot like a flame to cause an explosion though.

hi I have a question regarding the properties of hydrogen gas. If I got a bucket or a water tank full of pure hydrogen gas and had a heating material, say capable of producing heat up to 2 or 3000 degrees celcius would it explode like that in the movie Chain Reaction?

 

I've always wondered if the idea of the movie was based on actual science or just an exaggeration of the facts.

no, it wouldn`t explode if it was pure hydrogen, it won`t support any sort of combustion as it`s not an oxidiser.

in fact Hydrogen gas is used in certain spark-gaps.

so that movie was just a bunch of crap about hydorgen? sheesh! Thanks for enlightening me though.

I think this is a cool place to learn more about science stuff.

wasn't chain reaction about a fusion reaction in the hydrogen?

 

when hydrogen fuses you can get some spectacular results. examples include the sun and and bomb labeled as 'thermonuclear'(also known as a 'hydrogen' bomb).

 

if the reaction is finely controlled you can contain it and get a fusion reactor capable of generating electricity, not visually spectacular but still damn impressive.

 

and most movies that have 'sciency stuff' in them are a load of week old baloney