Hydrogen

Hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant element in the entire universe — about 75% of all normal matter is hydrogen! It was first recognized as a distinct element in 1766 by Henry Cavendish, who called it 'inflammable air' because it catches fire so easily. Stars like our Sun are basically giant hydrogen-burning engines, fusing hydrogen atoms together to create helium and releasing the energy that lights up our solar system.

On Earth, hydrogen is mostly found locked up in water (H₂O). It is also used to make rocket fuel — NASA's Space Shuttle main engines ran on liquid hydrogen. Today, scientists are working on hydrogen-powered cars that emit nothing but water vapor from their tailpipes, making them super eco-friendly.

Hydrogen's symbol 'H' is one of the most common starting letters in English, making it a powerhouse for spelling words with elements. From 'Ha' to 'Hi,' this tiny element opens up huge possibilities in Spellement!