Hydrogen Fuel Cells (Oxford AQA IGCSE Chemistry)

Hydrogen Fuel Cells

• Fuel cells produce electricity through the reaction of a fuel with oxygen

  • An example of a fuel used in a fuel cell is hydrogen

• Hydrogen is used as a fuel in in spacecraft and in some cars

• It reacts with oxygen in an exothermic reaction to produce water

hydrogen   +   oxygen   →   water

2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O

• Hydrogen has a series of advantages and disadvantages regarding its use as a fuel

Advantages

• The hydrogen is produced from water so the process is renewable

• Hydrogen only produces water on combustion, no other product is formed

  • Burning hydrogen therefore does not contribute towards global warming or acid rain

Disadvantages:

• Requires large amounts of electricity to produce the hydrogen from water 

  • The hydrogen is obtained by electrolysis

• Difficult and dangerous to store due to bulky and pressurised containers being required 

• Hydrogen forms an explosive mixture with air so could be hazardous