alleryStart learning →Compared with an internal combustion engine, a fuel cell using the same reaction is typically:
AMore than twice as efficient
BAbout half as efficient
CExactly as efficient
DVery slightly less efficient
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. More than twice as efficient
1. Within a fuel cell, fuel and oxidant undergo the same redox chemistry as when they are combusted.
2. They do so via a catalysed electrochemical route that is significantly more efficient.
3. Compared to an internal combustion engine, the energy efficiency of a fuel cell using the same redox reaction is typically more than double.
4. The figures are roughly 20 to 25 percent for an engine against 50 to 75 percent for a fuel cell.
_Source: OpenStax Chemistry 2e (CC BY 4.0), Ch 17 'Electrochemistry', sections 17.1-17.7_
Keep practising Electrochemical Series
Browse all Electrochemical Series questions for AP Chemistry, or explore more Chemistry topics.
Related questions
Reducing chromium(III) to chromium metal requires how many moles of electrons per mole of To drive a nonspontaneous cell reaction, the applied voltage must be:A sacrificial anode protects iron because the anode metal has a reduction potential that iRust differs from copper patina in that the rust layer:A protective oxide layer that stops further corrosion is formed by a process called:The blue-green patina on outdoor copper structures forms because copper oxides react with:A lead acid car battery reaches 12 volts because it connects in series:An alkaline battery delivers roughly how much more energy than a similar-sized zinc-carbon