Photo AI
Chemical reactions can produce electricity - AQA - GCSE Chemistry - Question 3 - 2018 - Paper 1
Question 3
Chemical reactions can produce electricity. Figure 2 shows a simple cell. Which of these combinations would not give a zero reading on the voltmeter in Figure 2? ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Chemical reactions can produce electricity - AQA - GCSE Chemistry - Question 3 - 2018 - Paper 1
Step 1
Which of these combinations would not give a zero reading on the voltmeter in Figure 2?
Answer
The combination of Copper (Electrode A) and Zinc (Electrode B) with Sodium chloride solution as the electrolyte would not give a zero reading on the voltmeter since it can facilitate a redox reaction.
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Evaluate the use of hydrogen fuel cells compared with rechargeable lithium-ion batteries to power electric cars.
Answer
Hydrogen fuel cells can be considered better due to several factors:
- Time Efficiency: Refueling a hydrogen fuel cell is faster (5 minutes) compared to charging a lithium-ion battery (30 minutes).
- Environmental Impact: Hydrogen can be renewable if produced via electrolysis using renewable energy sources, whereas lithium-ion batteries may involve environmentally harmful chemicals during disposal.
- Range: Fuel cells enable a longer distance travelled before needing refueling (up to 415 miles) compared to lithium-ion batteries (up to 240 miles).
Alternatively, lithium-ion batteries have advantages of their own:
- Cost Effectiveness: They have a lower initial cost (approximately £18,000) compared to hydrogen fuel cells (£60,000).
- Energy Efficiency: Lithium-ion batteries use energy more efficiently and are more widely available than hydrogen fueling stations.
In conclusion, while hydrogen fuel cells offer faster refuels and longer ranges, lithium-ion batteries are more cost-effective and currently more practical due to wider infrastructure availability.