<P> The energy released enables hydrogen to act as a fuel . In an electrochemical cell, that energy can be used with relatively high efficiency . If it simply is used for heat, the usual thermodynamics limits on the thermal efficiency apply . </P> <P> Since there is very little free hydrogen gas, hydrogen is in practice only an energy carrier, like electricity, not an energy resource . Hydrogen gas must be produced, and that production always requires more energy than can be retrieved from the gas as a fuel later on . This is a limitation of the physical law of the conservation of energy . Most hydrogen production induces environmental impacts . </P> <P> Because pure hydrogen does not occur naturally on Earth in large quantities, it takes a substantial amount of energy in its industrial production . There are different ways to produce it, such as electrolysis and steam - methane reforming process . In electrolysis, electricity is run through water to separate the hydrogen and oxygen atoms . This method can use wind, solar, geothermal, hydro, fossil fuels, biomass, nuclear, and many other energy sources . Obtaining hydrogen from this process is being studied as a viable way to produce it domestically at a low cost . Steam - methane reforming, the current leading technology for producing hydrogen in large quantities, extracts the hydrogen from methane . However, this reaction causes a side production of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, which are greenhouse gases and contribute to global warming . </P> <P> General Chemistry textbooks and laboratory manuals have students prepare hydrogen by reacting many metals (iron, zinc, and other metals but not copper, silver, platinum, or gold) with hydrochloric, sulfuric, phosphoric acid and other acids . </P>

How hydrogen can be used as a fuel