Final answer:
Hydrogen is set apart from the other elements in the periodic table due to its unique properties and behaviors. It can be considered as both a group 1 and a group 17 element, and it does not fit neatly into any specific group or period.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hydrogen is set apart from the other elements in the periodic table because it has unique properties and behaviors. It can be considered as both a group 1 element and a group 17 element. Hydrogen can lose an electron to form a cation (H+) or gain an electron to form a hydride ion (H¯) or share an electron to form a covalent bond. Due to these characteristics, hydrogen does not fit neatly into any specific group or period and almost deserves its own location in the periodic table.