Hydrogen is produced from a reaction of organic matter with a base. A bicarbonate or carbonate compound forms as a by-product. The base-facilitated hydrogen-producing reactions are thermodynamically more spontaneous than conventional-type reformation reactions and are able to produce hydrogen gas at less extreme reaction conditions than conventional-type reformation reactions. The preferred reactants are biomass, components of biomass, and mixtures of components of biomass. Especially preferred are base-facilitated reactions in which hydrogen is produced from carbohydrates or mixtures of carbohydrates, include monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides, and cellulose. The instant reactions can occur in the liquid phase or solid.