Hydrogen–oxygen fuel cells

Cambridge·Chemistry·4.2·Extended

Hydrogen–oxygen fuel cell

A hydrogen–oxygen fuel cell uses hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. It converts chemical energy from the reactants into useful electrical energy.

Inside the cell, reactions involving hydrogen and oxygen cause electrons to flow through an external circuit. This flow supplies electrical energy, while the hydrogen and oxygen form water.

2 HX2+OX2→2 HX2O\ce{2H2 + O2 -> 2H2O}

Hydrogen and oxygen are the reactants, and water is the only chemical product. Electricity is the useful energy output, not a chemical product.

Notes for this section are being prepared.