Final answer:
Hydrogen is primarily obtained through electrolysis of water or catalytic reforming of hydrocarbons, but faces challenges like lack of infrastructure, environmental impacts, and economic viability. Research into cleaner and more efficient production methods continues, especially for applications in fuel-cell vehicles.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary method for obtaining hydrogen for use as a fuel source is through a process known as electrolysis, which involves passing an electric current through water to decompose it into hydrogen and oxygen gases. This process requires a significant amount of energy, typically derived from electricity. Another method is extracting hydrogen from hydrocarbons through a catalytic process, such as reforming methane or through fermentation of plant waste material, which may involve energy input and result in carbon emissions, depending on the source of the hydrocarbons. Additionally, fuel cells can produce electricity via the catalytic combination of hydrogen and oxygen, with the only emission being water, which is environmentally friendly but currently not economically competitive compared to conventional energy sources.
Challenges of hydrogen production include the lack of infrastructure for fuel production, storage, transport, and usage. Moreover, environmental concerns arise depending on the method of hydrogen production used, including possible impacts on stratospheric ozone levels. Researching more environmentally sound and economically viable methods of producing hydrogen is ongoing, with the aim of reducing dependence on fossil fuels and enabling applications such as fuel-cell vehicles (FCVs).