1) What is a fuel cell?
Solution

2) The diagram below shows part of an ethanol fuel cell, which produces carbon dioxide and uses an acidic electrolyte.

b. i. Name the species that crosses the membrane to enable fuel cell operation.

ii. In the box provided on the diagram above, indicate the direction of flow of the species named in part b.i.

c. Write the equation for the reaction that occurs at the anode of an ethanol fuel cell, which produces carbon dioxide and uses an acidic electrolyte.

Solution

d. If an ethanol fuel cell was operating at 25 °C and at 100% efficiency, how much electrical energy could be produced from 1.0 g of ethanol?

e. Identify two aspects of electrode design that can improve the efficiency of a fuel cell.

f. State how the environmental impact of using an ethanol fuel cell operating at 100% efficiency can be minimised.

Solution