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Year 11 - Science

Fuel cells

Electrolysis

Unit Summary

This unit focuses on electrolysis, electrode reactions, and predicting products, including competing reactions in solutions. It explains metal extraction through electrolysis and writing ionic equations. It also covers tests for gases like oxygen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and chlorine.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to describe how a hydrogen fuel cell works and compare one to an electric cell.

Key Notes

  • One type of fuel cell contains hydrogen that reacts with oxygen from the air to produce a voltage.
  • Hydrogen used in fuel cells can be extracted from fossil fuels or produced by electrolysis powered by the National Grid.
  • Other fuel cells exist, but have other products than just water.
  • There are many strengths and weaknesses of fuel cells, and these should be compared against other energy sources.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • fuel cell: a device that produces a voltage when supplied with a fuel and oxygen
  • National Grid: the network that connects all the power stations in the country to make sure that everywhere has access to electricity
  • fossil fuel: a fuel that formed over millions of years from the dead remains of organisms

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Confusing electrode reactions with those that occur in electrolysis. For example in a hydrogen fuel cell, hydrogen is oxidised at the anode but in electrolysis, hydrogen is produced at the cathode.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.

One type of fuel cell contains hydrogen that reacts with oxygen from the air to produce a voltage. Hydrogen used in fuel cells can be extracted from fossil fuels or produced by electrolysis powered by the National Grid.

2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'fuel cell'

a device that produces a voltage when supplied with a fuel and oxygen. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.

3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.

Mistake: Confusing electrode reactions with those that occur in electrolysis. For example in a hydrogen fuel cell, hydrogen is oxidised at the anode but in electrolysis, hydrogen is produced at the cathode. Correction: Discuss the electrode reactions in terms of electron loss or gain; rather that just relying on memory. This will provide pupils with the tools to work out the electrode reactions.

More Lessons In This Unit

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