Hydrides, and Aetallic Hydrides

Hydrides are compounds of hydrogen formed with other elements. Hydrides are easily formed because hydrogen is highly reactive with other elements in the periodic table. Hydrides can react with metals, non-metals but not noble gases. Hydrides can look very simple on the outside, but they are complex on the inside, due to which they have several different uses in the world of chemistry. They are great reducing agents that are widely used throughout. There are three types of hydrides in inorganic chemistry: Ionic or saline hydrides, covalent hydrides and metallic hydrides. The type of hydrides depends on the type of chemical bonding that is present between the hydrogen and the element. This also affects the physical and chemical properties of hydrogen compounds. 

Hydride is said to be the negative counterpart for anion of the hydrogen atom. They have a nucleophilic centre. It also contains a negative charge. 

What are hydrides?

Hydrides are named after binary compounds of hydrogen with other elements. The various physical and chemical properties of the hydrides depend on the type of intermolecular force of attraction present between the elements. It also depends on the molecular mass, the temperature, and other such aspects concerning the elements. Initially, hydride was known as the negative ion of hydrogen. It was referred to as the hydride ion. Due to the negative charge, hydrides have reducing properties. 

Only some hydrides are associated with hydrogen bonding. Few hydrogen bonds can be very weak as compared to the other molecules present in the compound. For instance, Oxygen, nitrogen and chlorine are more prone to hydrogen bonding than other elements. Hydrogen is always bonded with an electronegative element. 

What are the types of hydride?

Several types of hydrides are present in inorganic chemistry. They are classified into three types. They are:

• • Ionic or saline hydrides
  • Covalent hydrides

• Metallic hydrides

Metallic Hydrides

Metallic hydrides are the new compounds that are metal bonded with hydrogen. Any metal that is bonded with hydrogen makes up a metallic hydride. These bonds can be both ionic and covalent. When hydrogen reacts with a metal, the hydrogen gas is absorbed by the metal, and it results in the formation of the hydrides. 

The common examples of metallic hydrides are Borohydrides, Aluminium hydrides, Lithium hydrides, Sodium hydrides. Many salts form metal hydrides. The common metals that form hydrides are calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, nickel, potassium, zinc, uranium, titanium, palladium and thallium.

The complex metal hydrides have a variety of uses. This is because they are soluble in ethereal solvents. Some types of metallic hydrides are unknown or rare. These include ternary metal hydrides, cluster hydrides, and coordination complexes.  

Properties of hydrides

Metallic hydrides have many physical and chemical properties that make them a unique fit. Due to this, it is given special importance in the types of hydrides. The various properties of metallic hydrides are as follows:

• They are lustrous.
• They are good conductors of electricity.
• Metallic hydrides have a high melting point.
• They are stable at room temperature.
• They may react differently when heated.
• They are greyish black solids.
• They have a high boiling point.
• They are the bridge between salt and alloys.
• They’ve great use in metallurgy.
• They’re used as reducing agents in Chemistry.
• They contain positive hydrogen ions or cations. 

Uses of Metallic hydride

Various uses of metallic hydrides are mentioned below:

• They are used as fuel in hydrogen-powered machines.
• Many hydride batteries rely on metallic hydrides for their functioning. For Example, Lanthanum, when bonded with Cobalt.
• Sodium borohydride and Lithium hydride are both reducing agents. They are used in a variety of chemical processes.
• Metallic hydrides can also be used as heat pumps.
• They are used for the storage of hydrogen and to compress it well.
• They are also used for isotope separation.
• The other related uses are in sensors, refrigeration and purification purposes.

Conclusion

Hydrides are compounds of hydrogen formed with other elements. Hydrides are easily formed because hydrogen is highly reactive with other elements in the periodic table. Hydrides can react with metals, non-metals but not noble gases. The various physical and chemical properties of the hydrides depend on the type of intermolecular force of attraction present between the elements. It also depends on the molecular mass, the temperature, and other such aspects concerning the elements. The different types of hydrides are: ionic, metallic, and covalent. Metallic Hydrides are formed when a metal is bonded with hydrogen. These bonds can be both ionic and covalent. When hydrogen reacts with a metal, the hydrogen gas is absorbed by the metal, and it results in the formation of the hydrides. We also discussed the various metallic hydrides questions.