Just a small question....

[deltanova]

Does anyone know what pressure Hydrogen has to be at to be able to conduct Electricity?

 

Thanks

 

Tash.

 

Edit: I am under the impression it is and incredibly high amount of pressure, close to the pressure of jupiters core. but was wondering if anyone had a rough estimate and a Number.

[xeluc]

Here's a site that may interest you:

 

Theory predicted that metallization would occur when the insulating molecular solid would transform to a metallic monatomic solid at absolute zero--0 degrees kelvin (K) or -460°F. For early metallic hydrogen theorists' date=' "sufficient pressure" was thought to be 0.2 megabars (1 bar is atmospheric pressure at sea level; a megabar, or Mbar, is a million times atmospheric pressure at sea level). Subsequent predictions pushed metallization pressure to as high as 20 Mbar. At the time our experiments were conducted, the prevailing theory predicted 3 Mbar for solid hydrogen at 0 K.[/quote']

[deltanova]

Thanks loads xeluc

[jdurg]

Hydrogen, and any gas for that matter, will conduct electricity if at a VERY low pressure. Neon lights and gas discharge tubes all conduct electricity. If they didn't, we wouldn't be able to see the gas.

[deltanova]

but Neon is a larger element?

[xeluc]

yes it is

[deltanova]

sorry, i should have been more specific about what i was meaning. isnt neon a larger element, and thus more able to conduct electricity than hydrogen?

[jdurg]

The size of the element really doesn't matter. If you take any gas in existance and place it at a low pressure inside a sealed tube it will conduct electricity just fine.

[deltanova]

Thanks loads for you help.