Table of Contents
Why do fuel cells need oxygen?
Hydrogen is the basic fuel, but fuel cells also require oxygen. One great appeal of fuel cells is that they generate electricity with very little pollution–much of the hydrogen and oxygen used in generating electricity ultimately combine to form a harmless byproduct, namely water.
What happens when hydrogen and oxygen are used in a fuel cell?
In a fuel cell, hydrogen and oxygen are combined to generate electricity, heat, and water. The protons pass through the porous electrolyte membrane, while the electrons are forced through a circuit, generating an electric current and excess heat.
What do fuel cells emit oxygen hydrogen Nothing water?
What do fuel cells emit? Fuel cells typically generate electricity using hydrogen and emit only water and heat. For polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells, hydrogen is fed into one side of the fuel cell, and oxygen is fed into the other.
Is oxygen reduced in a fuel cell?
In chemistry, the oxygen reduction reaction refers to the reduction half reaction whereby O2 is reduced to water or hydrogen peroxide. In fuel cells, the reduction to water is preferred because the current is higher. The oxygen reduction reaction is well demonstrated and highly efficient in nature.
How is oxygen produced for fuel cells?
Oxygen gas is fed through the cathode, where it absorbs electrons to create oxygen ions. The oxygen ions then travel through the electrolyte to react with hydrogen gas at the anode. The reaction at the anode produces electricity and water as by-products.
What happens to oxygen in fuel cell?
At the cathode, the positive terminal of the fuel cell, oxygen is incorporated into the fuel cell material from the air. Electrically charged oxygen ions then have to travel through the material and react with the fuel, for example hydrogen, at the negatively charged side, the anode.
Where does oxygen reduction occur in the cell?
An electrode is strip of metal on which the reaction takes place. In a voltaic cell, the oxidation and reduction of metals occurs at the electrodes. There are two electrodes in a voltaic cell, one in each half-cell. The cathode is where reduction takes place and oxidation takes place at the anode.
What happens when oxygen is reduced?
If blood oxygen levels are too low, your body may not work properly. Blood carries oxygen to the cells throughout your body to keep them healthy. Hypoxemia can cause mild problems such as headaches and shortness of breath. In severe cases, it can interfere with heart and brain function.