Eli5: How is hydrogen, a potent source of fuel with high energy release, combined with oxygen, a facilitator for combustion and energy release, mix together to make water which we drink like it’s no big deal?

Question

bonus points if you can explain why water has no caloric value, but hydrogen can power huge machinery.

In: 3

Answer 1

Hydrogen’s potential for high energy release is due it’s single electron in a shell that needs two. Oxygen’s facilitation of combustion is due to having two vacancies in its outer shell of electrons to make up the eight needed for stability.

Two hydrogens and an oxygen share their electrons in such a way that their requirements are fulfilled and no further energy can be released by combining with different atoms. They have formed a more stable molecule than the individual molecules of hydrogen and oxygen gas.

Do not confuse the properties of compound with those of the elements from which it is made, they are inevitably different else the compound would not form.