Use of the reaction
The main use known for this reaction, is in a cryogenic rocket engine. The word cryogenics refers to matters that involve very low temperatures, and liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen are at temperatures under 290 degrees Fahrenheit. In the engine of the rocket, these two reactants, one being a fuel, the hydrogen, with the oxygen is the oxidizer, react with one another to produce massive amounts of energy, capable of powering even a NASA SSME, or NASA Space Shuttle Main Engine, into space.
The chemical equations of the reaction
The main chemical reaction that takes place in a liquid-propellant rocket's engine, such as the SSME (Space Shuttle Main Engine) of a NASA rocket, is between Liquid Oxygen (LOx, or O₂) and Liquid Hydrogen (LH₂ or H₂). The product is that is produced in this reaction is water (H₂O). This reaction is a basic synthesis reaction.
Skeletal Equation of the Reaction
Balanced Equation of the Reaction
Physical and chemical properties of the reactants & Products
Hydrogen (H₂) - Reactant
Physical Properties
- A colourless, tasteless, odorless gas¹
- Lowest density of any element, at 0.08999 g/L¹
Chemical Properties
- Hydrogen, when burned in oxygen, produces water, or H₂O
- Combines readily with halogens, such as fluorine and chlorine
Physical Properties
- A colourless, tasteless, odorless gas¹
- Lowest density of any element, at 0.08999 g/L¹
Chemical Properties
- Hydrogen, when burned in oxygen, produces water, or H₂O
- Combines readily with halogens, such as fluorine and chlorine
Oxygen (O₂) - Reactant
Physical Properties
- A colourless, tasteless, odorless gas, but when in liquid form, has a bluish colour to it²
- Oxygen's density is 1.429 g/L²
Chemical Properties
- A key part of combustion, as oxygen supports combustion reactions and helps other objects burn²
- Combines with other elements such as Iron (Fe), which is rusted when it combines with oxygen
Physical Properties
- A colourless, tasteless, odorless gas, but when in liquid form, has a bluish colour to it²
- Oxygen's density is 1.429 g/L²
Chemical Properties
- A key part of combustion, as oxygen supports combustion reactions and helps other objects burn²
- Combines with other elements such as Iron (Fe), which is rusted when it combines with oxygen
Water, or dihydrogen monoxide (H₂O) - Product
benefits and negative effects of the reaction
The reaction is used mainly to power an SSME (Space Shuttle Main Engine) of a NASA space shuttle or rocket. It is beneficial because both materials, Liquid Oxygen and Hydrogen, are relatively cheap and easy to obtain, as they are two simple elements, hydrogen and oxygen, heavily cooled to cryogenic temperatures. They also produce a lot of cost-effective energy, enough to power the take-off of a space shuttle. One other important point is the fact that the main emission of this reaction is water vapour or water, which is why it is emission-free in a way, making it a good environmental choice for the take-off of these space shuttles. This reaction is very reliable and efficient compared to other options for this, and is used in many NASA space shuttles successfully for these reasons, most notably in NASA's SSMEs.
The major negative effects of this reaction involve its storage. The two liquid elements needed are cryogenic, and must be stored in a cryogenic container, which must have a temperature under 293 degrees Fahrenheit³. Secondly, these storage tanks need to hold up to 900 000 gallons³ of Liquid Hydrogen and Liquid Oxygen, which requires a really large tank, which can be inconvenient to store. Secondly, there are potential dangers to this, as these cool tanks that contain the reactions do have a risk of explosion, and are flammable, especially liquid hydrogen, which when heated, expands rapidly and can explode.
The major negative effects of this reaction involve its storage. The two liquid elements needed are cryogenic, and must be stored in a cryogenic container, which must have a temperature under 293 degrees Fahrenheit³. Secondly, these storage tanks need to hold up to 900 000 gallons³ of Liquid Hydrogen and Liquid Oxygen, which requires a really large tank, which can be inconvenient to store. Secondly, there are potential dangers to this, as these cool tanks that contain the reactions do have a risk of explosion, and are flammable, especially liquid hydrogen, which when heated, expands rapidly and can explode.
DID YOU KNOW??
- Liquid Hydrogen and Liquid Oxygen are both originally gases that have been cooled to temperatures below 290 degrees Fahrenheit to become liquids!
- Hydrogen and Oxygen are both colourless gases, but when cooled into liquids, they both have a bluish colour to them!
- Hydrogen and Oxygen are both colourless gases, but when cooled into liquids, they both have a bluish colour to them!
