Why Hydrogen Is Placed On Top Of The Periodic Table?

 Periodic table is one of the key aspect of Chemistry, a good understanding of periodic table is a great way to a better understanding of Chemistry - especially, Inorganic Chemistry; which is the mother of Chemistry (according to one of my Professors). 

I can personally guarantee you that Inorganic Chemistry is simply the study of Periodic Table!

Alright, let me go straight to today's topic. One of our student recently asked a very important question that I think is worth sharing with other students of Chemistry as well. 

The question read as; why Hydrogen (H₂) is placed in group of its own in the periodic table? 

At Chemistry Made Easy,  our focus is to teach and explain CHEMISTRY in a very easy and simple way. So here is our explanation is response to his question: 

Hydrogen is the most controversial element in the periodic table in terms of position. 

Periodic table is a systematic arrangement of elements in order of increasing their atomic numbers. Following this definition, many scientists argued that, basically hydrogen with atomic number 1 should be placed in group one (I) (as can be seen in many older version of periodic table), simply because, all group one elements have one electron in their outermost shells. 

Similarly, some scientists believed that H₂ can also be placed in group seven (VII), because all group seven elements need only one electron to become stable and so does hydrogen. 

However, some proposed that, it can be placed as a member of group four (IV) elements, due to the fact that it needs exactly what it has(one electron in its outermost shell and need one more to be stable) in its outermost shell to be stable as does by the group VI elements (they have four electrons and they need four more electrons to be stable). 

It is on the basis of the above controversies that some scientists concluded that hydrogen be placed on group of its own in the periodic table, so as to be on the safer side and clear the unending argument. That is why, hydrogen is mostly placed on-top of periodic table at its own unique group. 

We hope that you now clearly understand why hydrogen is placed in group of its own in the periodic table. 

If you have any Chemistry Question, feel free to drop your question in the comment section below or Click Here to submit your question.