We have investigated the effects of H atoms on thin film growth processes and surface reactions. In the oxidation of Si, Si surfaces are passivated against the $O_2$ adsorption by terminating dangling bonds with H atoms. Moreover, the existence of Si-H bonds on Si(100) surfaces enhances the structural relaxation of Si-O-Si bonds due to a charge transfer from Si-Si back bonds. In the heteroepitaxial growth of a Si/Ge/Si(100) system, H atoms suppress the segregation of Ge atoms into Si overlayers since the exchange of Ge atoms with Si atoms bound with H must be accompanied with breaking of Si-H bonds. However, 3-dimensional island growth is also promoted by atomic H irradiation, which is considered to result from the suppression of surface migration of adsorbed reaction species and from the lowering of step energies by the H termination of dangling bonds.