Question

Which of the following cells can convert chemical energy of $O_2$ and $H_2$ directly into electrical energy:
A. Mercury Cell
B. Daniel Cell
C. Fuel Cell
D. Lead Storage Cell

Answer 1

Hint: The cell produces electricity and heat as long as fuel is supplied. The cell used is mostly found in rocket thrusters. It undergoes an exothermic reaction to form water and heat energy is converted to electrical or mechanical energy as per required.

Complete step by step answer:
Fuel cell follows the conversion of the chemical energy of a fuel and an oxidizing agent mostly oxygen into electricity by a pair of redox reaction.
Applications of fuel cell:
1. Power:
Fuel cells are used in power sources in remote locations such as:
Spacecraft, remote weather stations, large parks, communications centers, rural locations including research stations, and in certain military applications and so on.
2. Fuel cell electrical vehicle:
Automobile, buses, Forklifts, Motorcycles and bicycles, Airplanes, Boats, Submarines.
3. Fueling Stations
4. Providing Power to base stations.
5. Distributed Generation.
Hence, Option C is correct.

Note:
There are so many types of fuel cells, but they all consist of an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte. Due to which they allow ions, often positively charged hydrogen ions (as protons) have to move between the two sides of the fuel cell.
At the anode a catalyst causes the oxidation reactions that generate ions (often positively charged hydrogen ions) and electrons. During the process, ions move from the anode to the cathode through the electrolyte. At the same time, electrons get excited from the anode to the cathode by an external circuit and produce direct current electricity. On the other hand, at the cathode another catalyst causes oxygen to react to react with ions, forming water and possibly other products.