TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The metal particles (preferably aluminum) and the catalyst are in intimate physical contact achieved by milling the particles and the catalyst. The water-soluble inorganic salt is sodium chloride (NaCl), calcium chloride (CaCl2), potassium chloride (KCl), ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) or sodium nitrate (NaNO3). The composition further comprises an additive (preferably Mg or NaNO3 in trace amounts). The metal particles and the catalyst are present in a ratio of 1000:1-1:1000 (preferably 1:1). The metal and the catalyst particles have particles size of 0.01-10000 (preferably 0.01-100) microns. The catalyst has a solubility in excess of 5 x 10-3 (preferably 0.1) mol/100 g of water.Preferred Method: The milling is preceded by pre-milling of the catalyst. The milling results in plastic deformation or mechanical alloying of the metal particles. The production of hydrogen is carried out at a pH of 4-9 and at a temperature of water of 22-100degreesC.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Device: The system is adapted for a device (preferably a hydrogen fuel cell) requiring a hydrogen source.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The metal particles (preferably aluminum) and the catalyst are in intimate physical contact achieved by milling the particles and the catalyst. The water-soluble inorganic salt is sodium chloride (NaCl), calcium chloride (CaCl2), potassium chloride (KCl), ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) or sodium nitrate (NaNO3). The composition further comprises an additive (preferably Mg or NaNO3 in trace amounts). The metal particles and the catalyst are present in a ratio of 1000:1-1:1000 (preferably 1:1). The metal and the catalyst particles have particles size of 0.01-10000 (preferably 0.01-100) microns. The catalyst has a solubility in excess of 5 x 10-3 (preferably 0.1) mol/100 g of water.Preferred Method: The milling is preceded by pre-milling of the catalyst. The milling results in plastic deformation or mechanical alloying of the metal particles. The production of hydrogen is carried out at a pH of 4-9 and at a temperature of water of 22-100degreesC. EXAMPLE - Aluminum powder (1.5 g) and sodium chloride (1.5 g) were Spex-milled for 15 minutes. The resulting powder mixture (2 g) was enclosed in a paper filter bag and immersed in tap water at approximately pH 6 and at 55degreesC. The total amount of hydrogen released after 1 hour was 790 cc/1 g of aluminum (63%).