Hydrogen gas is passed through an electric arc struck between tungsten electrodes at 4000 K, creatin — Hydrogen Chemistry Question
Question
Hydrogen gas is passed through an electric arc struck between tungsten electrodes at 4000 K, creating a highly energetic species that is then allowed to recombine on a metal surface. What is the primary industrial application of the immense heat released during this recombination?
Answer: C
💡 Solution & Explanation
The electric arc dissociates molecular $H_2$ into atomic hydrogen. Because the $H-H$ bond enthalpy is massively high ($435.9\text{ kJ mol}^{-1}$), the recombination of these atoms on a metal surface is intensely exothermic, generating temperatures around 4000 K used in atomic hydrogen welding torches.
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