Testing for Hydrogen Gas (WJEC GCSE Chemistry)

Testing for Hydrogen Gas

How to test for hydrogen

• The test for hydrogen consists of holding a lit splint held at the open end of a test tube of gas

• If the gas is hydrogen it burns with a loud “squeaky pop” which is the result of the rapid combustion of hydrogen with oxygen to produce water

• Be sure not to insert the splint right into the tube, just at the mouth, as the gas needs air to burn

Diagram to show the squeaky pop test 

A positive result gives a squeaky pop sound