Hydridin

Hydridin is a fictional chemical compound used in theoretical chemistry discussions and science fiction to illustrate concepts related to hydrogen storage and hydridic chemistry. It is typically depicted as a simple hydride species with a high hydrogen-to-metal ratio, enabling substantial reversible uptake and release of molecular hydrogen under practical conditions. No real-world sample of hydridin exists as of today.

In the imagined literature, hydridin possesses a relatively high gas–solid interaction strength, allowing reversible hydrogen absorption with moderate activation barriers. It is often described as being a labile M–H framework that can shuttle protons and hydrides in catalytic cycles, serving as a model system for studying reaction mechanisms and energy considerations in hydrogen-related transformations.

Synthesis and handling within these hypothetical contexts usually involve hydrogenating a pre-existing hydrido complex or reducing a halide or oxide precursor in the presence of a fictional catalyst. In some narratives, hydridin is portrayed as highly reactive with air and moisture, requiring inert-atmosphere handling; other depictions assign it stability within specialized ligands or matrices that suppress reactivity until triggered.

Applications discussed in speculative works include hydrogen storage for fuel cells, reversible catalysis, and demonstrations of hydridic rather than protonic transfer. Its use as a teaching tool helps illustrate thermodynamics of hydrogen uptake, kinetic trade-offs in catalytic cycles, and the design considerations for energy-storage materials in a fictional or theoretical setting.

History and references: Hydridin appears in speculative chemistry and science fiction as a conceptual construct rather than a verified chemical, with no peer-reviewed accounts confirming its existence. It is occasionally cited in discussions of hydrogen economy models and in worldbuilding contexts.