In a fuel cell,

Question

In a fuel cell,

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Question restatement: In a fuel cell, which statement is true?

Option 1: 'a chemical reaction produces heat, which then produces electricity.' This is a description more aligned with heat engines or thermoelectric devices; fuel cells generate electricity from redox reactions with minimal direct reliance on heat production, so this characterization is inaccurate.

Option 2: 'there is direct conversion of mechanical energy into electricity.' That describes a generator or dynamo powered by mechanical work, not a fuel cell. A fuel cell converts chemical energy into electrical energy, not mechanical energy directly.

Option 3: 'reduction takes place at the cathode.' In electrochemical cells, oxidation occurs at the anode and reduction occurs at the cathode. A fuel cell operates on this exact principle, making this statement correct.

Option 4: 'there is oxidation, but no reduction.' This would violate the fundamental redox process of a fuel cell, where oxidation at the anode is coupled to reduction at the cathode. Saying there is oxidation without reduction misrepresents how the cell transfers electrons and generates current.

Summary of reasoning: The fuel cell functions through a redox reaction where electrons flow from the anode (oxidation) to the cathode (reduction). Therefore, the only statement that accurately describes the process is that reduction takes place at the cathode. The other options mix up the mechanism (heat-driven electricity, direct mechanical-to-electric conversion) or omit the essential reduction step, which is incorrect for a fuel cell.

CHE 1V_SS1 2025 Final Exam_SS1_2025_Proctored

In a fuel cell,

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