Ihydride

Ihydride refers to a class of chemical compounds that contain hydrogen bonded to a negatively charged ion or atom, typically a metal or metalloid. The term is derived from the combination of "hydrogen" and "hydride," where the latter denotes a hydrogen anion (H⁻). Unlike molecular hydrogen (H₂), which is a neutral diatomic gas, ihydrides feature hydrogen in its reduced form, exhibiting distinct chemical and physical properties.

Ihydrides are commonly found among alkali metals (e.g., lithium, sodium) and alkaline earth metals (e.g., calcium, barium), as well as some transition metals like titanium and zirconium. These compounds often form crystalline solids with high hydrogen content, making them useful in applications such as hydrogen storage and metal hydride batteries. The bonding in ihydrides is primarily ionic or covalent, depending on the metal involved, with hydrogen donating its electron to the more electronegative metal.

One notable example is lithium hydride (LiH), a white crystalline solid used in organic synthesis and as a reducing agent. Metal hydrides, including ihydrides, play a key role in hydrogen economy research due to their ability to store large volumes of hydrogen at relatively low pressures. However, their practical use is sometimes limited by issues like thermal instability or slow hydrogen release kinetics.

Ihydrides are also studied in materials science for their potential in solid-state hydrogen storage, where they can absorb and release hydrogen reversibly. This property is critical for developing sustainable energy technologies, such as fuel cells and hydrogen-powered vehicles. Research continues to explore new ihydride compositions to improve efficiency, stability, and cost-effectiveness in these applications.