Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Question 1

Hydrogen and [ ] give out energy when they react

Answer 1

Oxygen

Question 2

What do hydrogen and oxygen produce when they react?

Answer 2

Water which isn’t a pollutant

Question 3

Is the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen endo- or exothermic?

Answer 3

Exothermic - it release energy

Question 4

Name to things that you use hydrogen in as a fuel

Answer 4

1) Combustion engine

2) Fuel Cell

Question 5

How is hydrogen used in Combustion engines?

Answer 5

Hydrogen gas can be burnt in oxygen as a fuel in a Combustion engine in vehicles

Question 6

What is the advantage of using hydrogen gas in a Combustion engine?

Answer 6

Hydrogen combines with oxygen in the air to form just water = very clean
Hydrogen + oxygen -> Water

Question 7

What is the disadvantage of using hydrogen gas in a Combustion engine?

Answer 7

You need a special, expensive engine.
Although hydrogen can be made from water, you still need to use energy from another source to make it.
Also hydrogen’s hard to store safely - it’s very explosive

Question 8

What is a fuel cell?

Answer 8

A fuel cell is an electrical cell that’s supplied with a fuel and oxygen and uses energy from the reaction between them to generate electricity

Question 9

[ ] can be used in a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell

Answer 9

Hydrogen

Question 10

What is the difference between a fuel cell and a battery?

Answer 10

Unlike a battery, a fuel cell doesn’t run down or need recharging from the mains. It’s produce energy in the form of electricity and heat as long as fuel is supplied

Question 11

What is the car industry developing?

Answer 11

Fuel cells to replace convention petrol/diesel engines

Question 12

What are the advantages of fuel cells?

Answer 12

1) Fuel cell vehicles don’t produce any conventional pollutants (greenhouse gases, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide) The only by-products are water and heat
2) Fuel cells will help countries become less dependant on crude oil

Question 13

Why do hydrogen fuels cells not mean the ends= of conventional power stations or our dependence on crude oil?

Answer 13

1) Hydrogen is a gas - takes up loads more space to store than liquids (petrol)
2) Very explosive - hard to store safely
3) Either made from hydrocarbons (from fossil fuels) or by electrolysis of water, which uses electricity (which must be generated, which might involve fossil fuels