Power Cells
How a chemical cell makes a voltage from reacting metals, how a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell makes electricity with only water as its product, and how to weigh up the strengths and weaknesses of fuel cells.
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Electricity from chemistry 🔋
Every battery in your pocket makes electricity from a **chemical reaction**. In chemistry these are called **chemical cells**, and a special kind called a **fuel cell** powers some cars and spacecraft. This module looks at how a chemical cell makes a voltage, how a hydrogen fuel cell works, and how to weigh up the strengths and weaknesses of fuel cells.
The key words 🔑
Four terms describe how these cells work:
Match each word 🔗
- Chemical cell
- Electrode
- Electrolyte
- Fuel cell
- Makes a voltage from a chemical reaction
- A metal that dips into the electrolyte
- The solution that lets charge move through the cell
- Makes electricity from a reacting fuel like hydrogen
A bigger voltage ⚡
What gives a chemical cell a bigger voltage?
- A bigger difference in reactivity between the two metals
- Using two pieces of the same metal
- Using less electrolyte
- Removing the electrolyte completely
Battery or fuel cell? ⚖️
A chemical cell and a fuel cell both make electricity, but they are refuelled differently.
The hydrogen fuel cell 💧
The best-known fuel cell combines **hydrogen** and **oxygen**. The reaction produces electricity, and its **only product is water**. Because nothing but water comes out at the point of use, hydrogen fuel cells are used in some buses and cars, and on spacecraft, where the water can even be used by the crew.
What comes out? 🎯
What is the only product of a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell?
- Water
- Carbon dioxide
- Hydrogen gas
- No product at all
Strengths of fuel cells ✅
Select the TWO strengths of a hydrogen fuel cell.
- The only product at the point of use is water
- It runs continuously while hydrogen fuel is supplied
- It releases a lot of carbon dioxide
- It never needs any fuel
Power cells in words 🧱
A chemical cell makes a voltage from a reaction between two different _____ placed in an _____. The bigger the difference in _____ of the two metals, the bigger the voltage. A hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell combines hydrogen and oxygen, and its only product is _____. Unlike a battery, a fuel cell keeps working as long as it is supplied with _____.
Build a simple cell 🪜
An interactive activity.
Weigh up the fuel cell 🖍️
An interactive activity.
Judge the fuel cell 🧭
An interactive activity.
Evaluate the fuel cell ✍️
An interactive activity.