GCSE Chemistry · Edexcel 1CH0 · Topic 5D
Chemical cells and fuel cells
Key points
- A chemical cell produces a voltage from a chemical reaction until one of the reactants is used up.
- The voltage depends on the metals used: the bigger the difference in reactivity, the larger the voltage.
- A fuel cell is supplied continuously with a fuel and oxygen. In a hydrogen–oxygen fuel cell: hydrogen + oxygen → water, producing electricity.
- Advantages: the only product is water, they are efficient, quiet and have few moving parts.
- Disadvantages: hydrogen is a flammable gas that is hard to store, and making it often uses fossil fuels or electricity.
- Compare with batteries: batteries need recharging and contain toxic chemicals, but are easier to store and use.
Topic notesPremium
A battery and a fuel cell both turn chemical energy directly into electrical energy using redox reactions. These notes cover chemical cells, what affects their voltage, hydrogen–oxygen fuel cells, and how to evaluate fuel cells against…
Unlock the full notes with Premium
Premium includes full topic notes, the paper generator, self-quizzes and progress tracking.
Practise this topicPremium
Premium members can generate an exam-style paper with a mark scheme, or take a quick quiz, on Chemical cells and fuel cells.