AP®︎ Environmental Science: Topic 6.11 Flashcards

An electrochemical device that combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, water, and heat without directly emitting carbon dioxide

The negative electrode where hydrogen enters and is separated into hydrogen ions and electrons

The positive electrode where oxygen, hydrogen ions, and returning electrons combine to form water

The fuel-cell material that allows ions to cross the cell but forces electrons to travel through the external circuit

The use of electrical energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen: 2H₂O + electrical energy → 2H₂ + O₂.

Hydrogen must be manufactured using energy, stores part of that input energy, and later transfers it through a fuel cell rather than acting as a primary energy source

A fuel cell directly emits water and no carbon dioxide, but producing, storing, and transporting its hydrogen may consume energy and cause upstream pollution