Hydrogen was the first element to form in the moments after the big bang, it's the most abundant element in the galaxy, and it's the first element on the periodic table. It is present as water in the atmosphere but makes up organic compounds in the biosphere. Under normal environmental conditions, hydrogen spontaneously and explosively combines with oxygen, producing invisible flames that leap upwards. It's a gas that releases energy by reacting naturally with the oxygen in the air, emitting harmless water — and that makes hydrogen an ideal resource for powering electric cars.