Question

In a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell, A) no transfer of electrons occurs.B) both oxygen and hydrogen atoms lose electrons.C) both oxygen and hydrogen atoms gain electrons.D) oxygen atoms lose electrons and hydrogen atoms gain electrons.E) oxygen atoms gain electrons and hydrogen atoms lose electron

Answer 1

Answer:

oxygen atoms gain electrons and hydrogen atoms lose electron

Explanation:

Hydrogen oxygen fuel cell involves redox reactions.

It is an electrochemical cell, which is used for many applications like rocket propellant.

The actual reaction is

$H_{2}+\frac{1}{2}O_{2}--->H_{2}O$

Here hydrogen undergoes oxidation as it loses electrons

Oxygen undergoes reduction as it gains electrons.

The redox reactions are

At anode:

$H_{2}--->2H^{+}+2e$ [loss of electrons by hydrogen]

At cathode:

$O_{2}+4H^{+}+4e--->2H_{2}O$ [gain of electrons by oxygen]