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Fuel Cells
Fuel cells are devices that also use hydrogen and the oxygen of the air to create electrical energy. But they don’t burn it. The concept is best understood by looking at a few more simple chemical formulae.
Fuel cells split the hydrogen molecules into two positively charged hydrogen atoms, setting free electrons in the process. These electrons contribute to the electrical current that is the output of a fuel cell. Here the formula:
2 H2 -> 4 H+ + 4 e-
The hydrogen atoms don’t remain positively charged for very long. After the electrons performed some work in the external circuit, they are conducted back into the cell. Here they participate in the following reaction:
4 H+ + O2 + 4 e- = 2 H2O
Meaning: The hydrogen – together with oxygen of the air is turned into water. This is - theoretically – the only exhaust of the fuel cell engine. Very friendly to the environment.
In reality, all fuel cells produce some level of pollution similar to that of traditional methods, but much less. They are also more efficient.
How does the fuel cell accomplish all this?
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