Spacecraft use hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells to generate electricity. The astronauts use the water produced by the fuel cells for drinking.
Relative atomic masses: H = 1, O = 16
Give one reason, other than providing drinking water, why fuel cells are useful in a spacecraft.
Balance the equation for the reaction in the fuel cell: ...... H2+O2→\mathrm{H_{2}} + \mathrm{O_{2}} \rightarrowH2+O2→ ...... H2O\mathrm{H_{2}O}H2O
Calculate the relative formula mass of water, H2O\mathrm{H_{2}O}H2O.
The balanced equation shows that 4 g of hydrogen forms 36 g of water. Calculate the mass of water formed when 50 kg of hydrogen is used.
The hydrogen and oxygen are stored on the spacecraft as liquids, not as gases. Suggest why.
State what happens to the voltage of the fuel cell if the hydrogen supply runs out.
38 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Chemistry 6.4 Chemical cells and fuel cells, covering 6.4.1 Chemical cells and fuel cells. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.