Test for Hydrogen

To perform the test for hydrogen, you’ll need a test tube containing the gas sample you want to test. After this, you can follow these steps:

1. Remove the bung from the test tube.

2. Hold a burning splint at the opening of the test tube.

3. If the gas in the tube is hydrogen, you will hear a distinctive “squeaky pop” sound as soon as the hydrogen ignites.

The sound is produced by the combustion of hydrogen with oxygen, which is ignited by the heat energy from the flame.

A burning splint being inserted into a test tube filled with hydrogen. The word "POP" appears next to it to indicate the sound produced.