Hydrogen and Oxygen Reaction in Nature

name         Mac
status       student
grade        4-5
location     FL

Question -   How does hydrogen and oxygen join to make water in 
nature? What makes them come together?
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Mac,

Imagine a ball sitting on one of the upper steps of a staircase. 
Left alone, the ball could sit on this upper step for quite a while, 
but given a little nudge and the ball could roll/bounce down the 
steps until it rests at a much lower step if not the lowest step. We 
then say that the ball at the higher step has a higher potential 
energy (it has a greater chance of doing things) then the ball at 
the lower step, and definitely more potential energy than a ball 
that is sitting on the lowest step. I asked you to imagine this 
because in a way atoms, elements, and compounds are just like the 
ball. Some atoms/compounds have a high potential energy, and 
although they may sit at that position for a while, given a little 
energy and they soon react (fall off the step) and go to a much 
lower energy state. So it is, that we find that hydrogen (either as 
an atom or a molecule) is a high energy substance. Oxygen is too. So 
given a little energy, the hydrogen and the oxygen would react with 
each other to form a more stable, less energetic compound such as water.

Greg (Roberto Gregorius)
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