Several myths about quantum mechanics exist due to a loss of awareness of its details since its inception in the beginning of the last century or based on recent experimental evidence. It is taught in textbooks that atomic hydrogen cannot go below the ground state. Atomic hydrogen having an experimental ground state of 13.6 eV can only exist in a vacuum or in isolation, and atomic hydrogen cannot go below this ground state in isolation. However, there is no known composition of matter containing hydrogen in the ground state of 13.6 eV. It is a myth that hydrogen has a theoretical ground state based on first principles. Historically, there were many directions in which to proceed to solve a wave equation for hydrogen. The Schrodinger equation gives the observed spontaneously radiative states and the nonradiative energy level of atomic hydrogen. On this basis alone, it is justified despite its inconsistency with physical laws as well as with many experiments. A solution compatible with first principles and having first principles as the basis of quantization was never found. Scattering results required the solution to be interpreted as probability waves that give rise to the uncertainty principle which in turn forms the basis of the wave particle duality. The correspondence principal predicts that quantum predictions must approach classical predictions on a large scale. However, recent data has shown that the Heisenberg uncertainty principle as the basis of the wave particle duality and the correspondence principle taught in textbooks are experimentally incorrect. Recently, a reconsideration of the postulates of quantum mechanics, has given rise to a closed form solution of a Schrodinger-like wave equation based on first principles. Hydrogen at predicted lower energy levels has been identified in the extreme ultraviolet emission spectrum from interstellar medium. In addition, new compositions of matter containing hydrogen at predicted lower energy levels have recently been observed in the laboratory, which energy levels are achieved using the novel catalysts. (C) 2000 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.