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Chemical cells and fuel cells - OCR GatewayEvaluating fuel cells

A chemical cell produces a voltage until one of the reactants is used up. In a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell, hydrogen and oxygen are used to produce a voltage, and water is the only product.

Part of Chemistry (Single Science)Organic chemistry

Evaluating fuel cells

have different strengths and weaknesses, depending on the intended use. For example, fuel cells are used in spacecraft and vehicles.

Fuel cells in spacecraft

Hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells are used in spacecraft. Their strengths include:

  • they have no moving parts to maintain
  • they are small for the amount of electricity they produce
  • the water they produce can be drunk

Hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells must be supplied with hydrogen and oxygen. This could be a problem once a spacecraft leaves the Earth. However, spacecraft in orbit have . These convert light into , so the hydrogen and oxygen can be replaced by the of water.

Solar cells only work when they are in the light, so the fuel cells allow electricity to be produced even when the spacecraft is in the dark.

Fuel cells in vehicles

Some cars and buses contain hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells. These power an electric motor, which turns the wheels. Other vehicles use engines fuelled by petrol or diesel.

The table shows some strengths and weaknesses of each type of vehicle.

Fuel cell vehicle Petrol or diesel vehicle
StrengthsQuiet in use, only waste product is water, fewer moving partsPetrol and diesel are easier to store, thousands of filling stations
WeaknessesHydrogen is more difficult to store, few filling stationsNoisy in use, carbon dioxide is a waste product, many moving parts
Strengths
Fuel cell vehicleQuiet in use, only waste product is water, fewer moving parts
Petrol or diesel vehiclePetrol and diesel are easier to store, thousands of filling stations
Weaknesses
Fuel cell vehicleHydrogen is more difficult to store, few filling stations
Petrol or diesel vehicleNoisy in use, carbon dioxide is a waste product, many moving parts

Hydrogen, diesel and petrol are all highly fuels, but hydrogen is more difficult to store. As there are far fewer hydrogen filling stations, it may be more difficult to travel long distances in a fuel cell vehicle. However, fuel cell vehicles have fewer moving parts, so they are often more reliable and easier to maintain.

Question

Suggest a reason why the quietness of fuel cell vehicles may be a weakness.