A method of producing Hydrogen by reacting a metal selected from the group consisting of Aluminum (Al), Magnesium (Mg), Silicon (Si) and Zinc (Zn) with water in the presence of an effective amount of a catalyst at a pH of between 4 and 10 to produce Hydrogen. The catalyst or other additive is selected to prevent or slow down deposition of the reaction products on the (impair reactions with the) metal that tend to passivate the metal and thereby facilitates the production of said Hydrogen.