From a solution of a Schrodinger-type wave equation with a nonradiative boundary condition based on Maxwell's equations, Mills predicts that atomic hydrogen may undergo a catalytic reaction with certain atomized elements such as cesium and strontium atoms or certain gaseous ions such as Ar+ which singly or multiply ionize at integer multiples of the potential energy of atomic hydrogen, 27.2 eV. The reaction involves a nonradiative energy transfer to form a hydrogen atom that is lower in energy than unreacted atomic hydrogen with the release of energy. Intense extreme ultraviolet (EUV) emission was observed from incandescently heated atomic hydrogen and the atomized catalysts that generated the plasma at low temperatures (e.g. approximate to 10(3) K). No emission was observed with cesium, strontium, argon, hydrogen, or an argon-hydrogen mixture (97/3%) alone or when sodium, magnesium, or barium replaced strontium or cesium with hydrogen or with an argon-hydrogen mixture. The emission intensity of the plasma generated by the cesium or strontium catalyst increased significantly with the introduction of argon gas only when Ar+ emission was observed. Ar+ which served as a second catalyst was generated by the formation of a plasma with a cesium or strontium catalyst. Emission was observed from a continuum state of Cs2+ and Ar2+ at 53.3 and 45.6 nm, respectively. The single emission feature with the absence of the other corresponding Rydberg series of lines from these species confirmed the resonant nonradiative energy transfer of 27.2 eV from atomic hydrogen to atomic cesium or Ar+. The catalysis product, a lower-energy hydrogen atom, was predicted to be a highly reactive intermediate which further reacts to form a novel hydride ion. The predicted hydride ion of hydrogen catalysis by either cesium atom or Ar+ catalyst is the hydride ion H-(1/2). This ion was observed spectroscopically at 407 nm corresponding to its predicted binding energy of 3.05 eV.