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Methane, CH₄, and methanol, CH₃OH, can both be used to power fuel cells - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 22 - 2023 - Paper 1
Question 22
Methane, CH₄, and methanol, CH₃OH, can both be used to power fuel cells. Methane and methanol fuel cells produce a. the same amount of greenhouse gases and the same... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Methane, CH₄, and methanol, CH₃OH, can both be used to power fuel cells - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 22 - 2023 - Paper 1
Step 1
b. the same amount of greenhouse gases and a different number of electrons per mol of fuel reacted.
Answer
When comparing methane and methanol fuel cells, both fuels produce the same quantity of greenhouse gases for a given amount of energy produced. However, the electrochemical processes and reactions involved in the fuel cells are different, which affects the number of electrons generated per mole of fuel consumed. Methane typically leads to a higher electron yield per mole compared to methanol due to its simpler oxidation reaction. Hence, option b is correct.