The word "hydride" refers to a compound formed by hydrogen and another element. Its spelling is derived from the prefix "hyd-", meaning "hydrogen," and the suffix "-ide," indicating a negative ion. The IPA phonetic transcription for "hydride" is /ˈhaɪdraɪd/, where the stress is on the first syllable "hyd." The first sound is "h" as in "hand," followed by "ai" as in "tie" and "d" as in "dog." The word "hydride" is commonly used in chemistry and is pronounced as per the IPA notation in English speaking countries.
A hydride refers to a type of chemical compound composed of hydrogen and another element. It is created when hydrogen accepts or gains one or more electrons from another element. The resulting compound exhibits distinct properties due to the interaction between the hydrogen and the second element.
Hydrides are categorized based on the nature of the interaction between hydrogen and the other element. Covalent hydrides, also known as molecular hydrides, consist of hydrogen bonded to a nonmetallic element. In these compounds, hydrogen shares electrons with the other element, forming a covalent bond. Examples of covalent hydrides include hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and ammonia (NH3).
On the other hand, ionic hydrides are composed of a metal cation bonded to a hydride anion (H-) through ionic bonding. These types of hydrides are typically highly reactive and can release hydrogen gas when exposed to water or acidic substances. Some examples of ionic hydrides are lithium hydride (LiH) and calcium hydride (CaH2).
Moreover, there are also complex hydrides that consist of more than one type of element, such as boron hydrides and aluminum hydrides. These compounds often possess unique properties and have applications in various fields, including hydrogen storage and catalysis.
In summary, hydrides are chemical compounds composed of hydrogen and another element, formed through the transfer or sharing of electrons. They can be categorized into covalent hydrides, ionic hydrides, and complex hydrides, each exhibiting distinct properties and reactivity.
A compound of hydrogen with another element or a radical.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "hydride" is derived from the combination of two ancient Greek terms: "hydor", meaning water, and "idos", meaning form or shape. The resulting term "hydoridos", which translates to "water-like", was eventually modified to "hydride" in English. This name was chosen because many hydrides, particularly binary compounds of hydrogen, exhibit characteristics similar to water.