Question

Which of the following statements is wrong? (1) The most reactive statc of hydrogen is atomic hydrogen. (2) The poorest reducing form of hydrogen is dihydrogen. (3) Para hydrogen is more stable than ortho hydrogen. (4) Ortho hydrogen has more internal cnergy than parahydrogen.

Short answer

None of the statements is wrong.

Step-by-step solution

Analyze statement (1)

Atomic hydrogen is highly reactive due to the presence of a single unpaired electron. This statement is correct.

Analyze statement (2)

Dihydrogen (H₂) is known to be a poor reducing agent under standard conditions compared to its other forms, so this statement is correct.

Analyze statement (3)

Para hydrogen, with antiparallel nuclear spins, is indeed more stable than ortho hydrogen, which has parallel nuclear spins. Thus, this statement is correct.

Analyze statement (4)

Ortho hydrogen, due to its parallel nuclear spins, has more internal energy compared to para hydrogen. Hence, this statement is also correct.

Conclusion

Since all statements (1), (2), (3), and (4) are correct, there does not appear to be a wrong statement among the options provided.

Key concepts

atomic hydrogen

Atomic hydrogen is a highly reactive form of hydrogen. This reactivity arises due to the presence of a single unpaired electron in its outer shell. When hydrogen exists in its atomic form, it is often denoted as H_atoms. Because of this unpaired electron, atomic hydrogen tends to form bonds very easily with other atoms or molecules. This makes it useful in various chemical reactions, such as hydrogenation processes. However, because it is so reactive, atomic hydrogen is rarely found in nature by itself. It's usually produced under specific laboratory conditions or found in very high-energy environments.

dihydrogen

Dihydrogen, often simply referred to as hydrogen (H₂), is the most common form of hydrogen found in nature. In this form, two hydrogen atoms bond together to create a stable molecule. Dihydrogen is considered a poor reducing agent under standard conditions. This means it does not easily donate electrons to other substances during chemical reactions. Nonetheless, despite being a poor reducing agent under normal circumstances, it is still widely utilized in industrial processes like the production of ammonia (via the Haber process) because of its stability and availability. Dihydrogen can also be used as a clean fuel source since its combustion only produces water, which makes it environmentally friendly.

ortho hydrogen

Ortho hydrogen is a specific form of dihydrogen where the spins of the nuclei (protons) are parallel. This parallel configuration results in higher internal energy. This form of hydrogen is less stable because having aligned spins means more energy is stored in the molecule. Ortho hydrogen is more commonly found at higher temperatures since thermal energy helps align the spins. In practical applications, ortho hydrogen can be less desirable due to its higher energy state. However, its high-energy characteristics make it useful under specific high-temperature conditions or scientific research.

para hydrogen

Para hydrogen is the more stable form of dihydrogen, with antiparallel nuclear spins. This configuration means the spins of the proton nuclei are opposite to each other. Because of this antiparallel arrangement, para hydrogen has a lower internal energy compared to ortho hydrogen. It is more commonly found at lower temperatures because it is energetically favored in cooler conditions. In practical applications, para hydrogen is preferred for storage and use in cryogenic environments due to its stability and lower energy state.