Novel inorganic alkali and alkaline earth hydrides of the formula MHX and MHMX wherein M is the metal, X is a singly negatively charged anion, and H comprises a novel high binding energy hydride ion were synthesized in a high temperature gas cell by reaction of atomic hydrogen with a catalyst and MX or MX2 corresponding to an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal compound, respectively. Novel hydride compounds were identified by time of flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and thermal decomposition with analysis by gas chromatography, and mass spectroscopy.