Hydrogen as a fuel
Hydrogen · Chemistry
Molecule viewer
Interactive 3DBall-and-stick models with true bond angles — switch molecule to compare shapes.
Controls
Drag the sliders or type a value — the simulation updates live.
Study notes
A car needs 50 MJ. Compare petrol vs hydrogen mass needed. Step 1: Petrol: ~44 MJ/kg → 50/44 ≈ 1.14 kg. Step 2: H₂: 120 MJ/kg → 50/120 ≈ 0.42 kg. Step 3: H₂ needs 3× less mass — but as gas at 700 bar it needs a big tank! Step 4: Trade-off: amazing mass energy, terrible volume energy. Engineering challenge!