The Collaborative International Dictionary
Hydrogen \Hy"dro*gen\, n. [Hydro-, 1 + -gen: cf. F. hydrog[`e]ne. So called because water is generated by its combustion. See Hydra.] (Chem.) A gaseous element, colorless, tasteless, and odorless, the lightest known substance, being fourteen and a half times lighter than air (hence its use in filling balloons), and over eleven thousand times lighter than water. It is very abundant, being an ingredient of water and of many other substances, especially those of animal or vegetable origin. It may by produced in many ways, but is chiefly obtained by the action of acids (as sulphuric) on metals, as zinc, iron, etc. It is very inflammable, and is an ingredient of coal gas and water gas. It is standard of chemical equivalents or combining weights, and also of valence, being the typical monad. Symbol H. Atomic weight 1.
Note: Although a gas, hydrogen is chemically similar to the metals in its nature, having the properties of a weak base. It is, in all acids, the base which is replaced by metals and basic radicals to form salts. Like all other gases, it is condensed by great cold and pressure to a liquid which freezes and solidifies by its own evaporation. It is absorbed in large quantities by certain metals (esp. palladium), forming alloy-like compounds; hence, in view of quasi-metallic nature, it is sometimes called hydrogenium. It is the typical reducing agent, as opposed to oxidizers, as oxygen, chlorine, etc.
Bicarbureted hydrogen, an old name for ethylene.
Carbureted hydrogen gas. See under Carbureted.
Hydrogen dioxide, a thick, colorless liquid, H2O2, resembling water, but having a bitter, sour taste, produced by the action of acids on barium peroxide. It decomposes into water and oxygen, and is manufactured in large quantities for an oxidizing and bleaching agent. Called also oxygenated water.
Hydrogen oxide, a chemical name for water, H?O.
Hydrogen sulphide, a colorless inflammable gas, H2S, having the characteristic odor of bad eggs, and found in many mineral springs. It is produced by the action of acids on metallic sulphides, and is an important chemical reagent. Called also sulphureted hydrogen.
Sulphide \Sul"phide\, n. (Chem.) A binary compound of sulphur, or one so regarded; -- formerly called sulphuret.
Double sulphide (Chem.), a compound of two sulphides.
Hydrogen sulphide. (Chem.) See under Hydrogen.
Metallic sulphide, a binary compound of sulphur with a metal.
Wiktionary
n. (context inorganic compound chiefly British English) (alternative spelling of hydrogen sulfide English)
Usage examples of "hydrogen sulphide".
Now Europa possessed a thin but serviceable - though not to human beings - atmosphere of water vapour, hydrogen sulphide, carbon and sulphur dioxides, nitrogen, and miscellaneous rare gases.
The first surprise was that the innermost planet, Swift, possessed an atmosphere rather different than expected: mostly carbon dioxide and nitrogen, at a fifth the total pressure of Earth's, but there were also significant traces of hydrogen sulphide and water vapor.
The second surprise was that the hydrogen sulphide appeared not to be in thermodynamic equilibrium with the rest Of the atmosphere.
The partial-pressure spacesuit he had worn during the exercise had the characteristic 'rotten eggs' stink of hydrogen sulphide when he brought it back into the ship, and he became the butt of innumerable jokes.
However, something else was discovered that-at least during the first few minutes-seriously disturbed this impression: the atmosphere contained a small admixture of hydrogen sulphide.
Plenty of natural organisms were proficient at making gas, but they tended to excrete products you wouldn't want wafting out of the ground in vast amounts, like methane or hydrogen sulphide.
Oddly shaped lamps burned and smoked about them and the air was thick with the reek of hydrogen sulphide.
Deep in the petroleum-rich land beneath New Mexico, hydrogen sulphide waters welled up to mix with the fresh water and oxygen at the water table, creating sulphuric acid.
Out there beyond its protection was, according to all official reports, an atmosphere suffocating with hydrogen sulphide.
Internally, a poor diet, high in fat, plus a bit too much hydrogen sulphide in the blood gases and the tissues.