noun
hydrogen
HIGH-druh-juhn/ˈhaɪdrədʒən/
The lightest chemical element, a colorless gas with atomic number one.
The model shows two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom.
Etymology
The pieces mean “water-producing”: hydrogen was named for forming water with oxygen. The name points to that chemical reaction rather than to the element’s lightness.
In context
Hydrogen is, that it's highly flammable and when it's mixed with oxygen, it's even explosive.
More examples
- Hydrogen is the lightest element.
- The sealed container held hydrogen gas.
- The experiment separated hydrogen from water.
Forms
hydrogen