What are hydrogen fuel cells?

What are hydrogen fuel cells?

• A. Devices that convert the chemical energy of hydrogen into electrical energy through a reaction with oxygen.
• B. Devices that store electricity in rechargeable batteries.
• C. Engines that burn hydrogen to drive a piston.
• D. Solar panels that generate hydrogen.

Answer: (A)

Hydrogen fuel cells are electrochemical devices that convert the chemical energy of hydrogen directly into electrical energy by reacting hydrogen with oxygen. In a typical fuel cell, hydrogen is fed to the anode where it splits into protons and electrons; the electrolyte only allows protons to pass, so the electrons travel through an external circuit to produce electricity. At the cathode, the electrons join with protons and oxygen to form water. No combustion occurs, and the main byproduct is water. This means power is produced continuously as long as fuel and oxidizer are supplied, with high efficiency for many applications. The other descriptions don’t fit: they don’t store electricity like batteries, they’re not engines that burn hydrogen to drive a piston, and solar panels don’t create hydrogen themselves.

Hydrogen fuel cells are electrochemical devices that convert the chemical energy of hydrogen directly into electrical energy by reacting hydrogen with oxygen. In a typical fuel cell, hydrogen is fed to the anode where it splits into protons and electrons; the electrolyte only allows protons to pass, so the electrons travel through an external circuit to produce electricity. At the cathode, the electrons join with protons and oxygen to form water. No combustion occurs, and the main byproduct is water. This means power is produced continuously as long as fuel and oxidizer are supplied, with high efficiency for many applications. The other descriptions don’t fit: they don’t store electricity like batteries, they’re not engines that burn hydrogen to drive a piston, and solar panels don’t create hydrogen themselves.