Meaning, structure and chemical reactions of fuel cells
Answer Text: Fuel cells-Fuel cells are electrochemical cells which convert the chemical energy of a fuel directly to electrical energy. One of the most important fuel cells is thehydrogen oxygen cell.-At the negative terminal, hydrogen reacts with hydroxide ions to form water and electrons are released.#2H_2(s)+4OH^(-) (aq) to 4H_2O(l)+4^(e-)#-At the positive terminal, oxygen and water acquire electrons to form hydroxideions.#O_2(g)+H_2O(l)+4^(e-) to 2H_2O(l)#The overall reaction in the hydrogen/oxygen cell is#2H_2(g)+O_2(g) to 2H_2O(l)#-The cell goes on producing electricity as long as hydrogen and oxygen are fed into it, so that it does not become exhausted like a primary cell. The fuel cell unlike a secondary cell does not store energy.-The electrode other than completing the circuit also catalyses the reactions which increase the output of the cell.
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