Abstract: According to the present invention, the ignition, combustion and explosion of hydrogen-air mixtures are dependent primarily on the presence of active intermediates (free atomic hydrogen, atomic oxygen and hydroxyl radicals) that serve as chain carriers and enable the propagation of reaction chains. These active intermediates rather than thermal energy are of primary importance to the oxidation process. The proposed inhibitor molecules capture these active intermediates. This capturing in turn suppresses the reaction chains. As a result, the oxidation of hydrogen in air, including the transition to combustion, the intensity of combustion, the transition from combustion to explosion and the intensity of explosion vary inversely with the inhibitor content. Even when the amount of inhibitor is too small to prevent ignition, a greater ignition source is needed and the intensity of combustion is reduced. The transition from combustion to explosion is also made more difficult or prevented.