Starter quiz
- What is a chemical reaction?
- A process that changes substances into new substances. ✓
- A process that evaporates substances.
- A process that freezes substances.
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- What is a hydrocarbon?
- A compound made of carbon and nitrogen atoms only.
- A compound made of hydrogen and carbon atoms only. ✓
- A compound made of hydrogen and oxygen atoms only.
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- What is one product of hydrocarbon combustion?
- Carbon dioxide ✓
- Nitrogen
- Oxygen
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- What is a fossil fuel?
- A fuel formed over millions of years from the remains of organisms. ✓
- A fuel made from renewable resources.
- A fuel made from synthetic materials.
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- What is the National Grid?
- A network of gas pipelines.
- A system for delivering water.
- The network that connects power stations to provide electricity everywhere. ✓
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- What is one environmental impact of using fossil fuels?
- Increase in oxygen levels.
- Reduction in water pollution.
- Release of greenhouse gases. ✓
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Exit quiz
- What is a fuel cell?
- A device that produces a voltage when supplied with a fuel and oxygen. ✓
- A device that stores electricity for later use.
- A device that produces fuel from water and sunlight.
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- What is the word equation for the overall reaction in a hydrogen fuel cell?
- Hydrogen + Carbon Dioxide → Water
- Hydrogen + Oxygen → Water ✓
- Hydrogen + Nitrogen → Ammonia
- Oxygen + Carbon → Carbon Dioxide
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- What happens at the anode in a hydrogen fuel cell?
- Hydrogen is oxidised into hydrogen ions and electrons. ✓
- Oxygen molecules are split into protons and electrons.
- Hydrogen ions and electrons react with oxygen to produce water.
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- What is the reaction at the anode in a hydrogen fuel cell?
- 2H₂ → 4H⁺ + 4e⁻ ✓
- H₂ + O₂ → H₂O
- O₂ + 4H⁺ + 4e⁻ → 2H₂O
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- What is one advantage of fuel cells?
- Low efficiency
- High emissions
- Loud operation
- No carbon dioxide is formed ✓
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- What is one challenge of using fuel cells?
- High cost ✓
- High emissions
- Low efficiency
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Worksheet
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Presentation
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Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- One type of fuel cell contains hydrogen that reacts with oxygen from the air to produce a voltage.
- Hydrogen used in fuel cells can be extracted from fossil fuels or produced by electrolysis powered by the National Grid.
- Other fuel cells exist, but have other products than just water.
- There are many strengths and weaknesses of fuel cells, and these should be compared against other energy sources.
Common misconception
Confusing electrode reactions with those that occur in electrolysis. For example in a hydrogen fuel cell, hydrogen is oxidised at the anode but in electrolysis, hydrogen is produced at the cathode.
Discuss the electrode reactions in terms of electron loss or gain; rather that just relying on memory. This will provide pupils with the tools to work out the electrode reactions.
Keywords
Fuel cell - a device that produces a voltage when supplied with a fuel and oxygen
National grid - the network that connects all the power stations in the country to make sure that everywhere has access to electricity
Fossil fuel - a fuel that formed over millions of years from the dead remains of organisms
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