• Question: what is the difference between oxygen and hydrogen?

    Asked by tommirams to Dilwar, Lou, Rachel, Simon, Susan on 11 Nov 2013.
    • Photo: Simon Langley-Evans

      Simon Langley-Evans answered on 11 Nov 2013:

      Any atom consists of protons and electrons and the real difference between elements is the numbers they have of each. Hydrogen is the simplest element and consists of just one proton and one electron. Oxygen has 8 electrons, 8 protons and 8 neutrons. They are both gases, colourless and explosive. Put them together, throw in a match and you will make water!

    • Photo: Susan Skelton

      Susan Skelton answered on 12 Nov 2013:

      This is a great question as both hydrogen and oxygen are required for humans to survive. Oxygen is necessary for us to breathe, and we also require hydrogen in the form of water. Without oxygen and hydrogen, life as we know it would never have evolved!!

      Oxygen and hydrogen have different properties:

      There is more hydrogen in the universe than anything else – it makes up 75% of all matter. Hydrogen gas is made of two hydrogen atoms. It is a very light gas so it easily escapes the gravity of the earth. Therefore not much hydrogen gas is found on earth – most hydrogen on earth is stuck to oxygen in the form of water.

      Oxygen is the third most abundant element in the atmosphere. It makes up 50% of the earth’s mass and 90% of the world’s oceans. Oxygen is made up of two atoms of oxygen, and is most stable in a gas form.

      Both oxygen and hydrogen are reactive gases and their reaction produces water which is essential for our survival.

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