Lesson 4.5.2.2

4.5.2.2 Fuel cells Quiz: AQA Chemistry, Unit 5

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 4.5.2.2, Fuel cells: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462), Unit 5: Energy changes, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What substances must be supplied to an external fuel cell?

    • Fuel and oxygen
    • Hydrogen and carbon
    • Water and electricity
    • Acid and metal

  2. What is the overall reaction in a hydrogen fuel cell?

    • Oxidation of hydrogen
    • Neutralisation of acid
    • Reduction of water
    • Thermal decomposition

  3. Hydrogen fuel cells offer a potential alternative to which devices?

    • Standard resistors
    • Solar panels
    • Gas boilers
    • Rechargeable batteries

  4. In a fuel cell, the fuel is oxidised electrochemically to produce what?

    • Heat
    • Mass
    • A potential difference
    • Light

  5. What is the only product of the overall hydrogen fuel cell reaction?

    • Nitrogen
    • Oxygen
    • Carbon dioxide
    • Water

  6. Where does the fuel come from in a working fuel cell?

    • Electrode plates
    • The electrolyte
    • External source
    • Internal store

  7. At the anode of a hydrogen fuel cell, what happens to hydrogen?

    • It forms molecules
    • It absorbs protons
    • It gains electrons
    • It loses electrons

  8. Higher tier: At the cathode of a hydrogen fuel cell, what happens to oxygen?

    • It is unchanged
    • It gains electrons
    • It forms hydrogen
    • It loses electrons

  9. Higher tier: In an acidic hydrogen fuel cell, which is the anode half equation?

    • H2 + e- -> H-
    • O2 + 4H+ + 4e- -> 2H2O
    • 2H2 -> 4H+ + 4e-
    • 2H2O -> O2 + 4H+

  10. Higher tier: In an acidic hydrogen fuel cell, which is the cathode half equation?

    • H2 -> 2H+ + 2e-
    • O2 + 4H+ + 4e- -> 2H2O
    • 2H2O -> O2 + 4H+ + 4e-
    • O2 + 2e- -> O2-

  11. What is a key advantage of a hydrogen fuel cell over rechargeable batteries?

    • Infinite voltage
    • Continuous fuel supply
    • No moving parts
    • Zero temperature

  12. Which substance is oxidised at the anode of a hydrogen fuel cell?

    • Oxygen
    • Water
    • Hydrogen
    • The electrolyte

  13. Fuel cells produce electricity without which process?

    • Oxygen
    • An electrochemical reaction
    • An electrolyte
    • Combustion of fuel

  14. Which fuel is given as an example for fuel cells?

    • Hydrogen
    • Petrol
    • Sodium
    • Coal

  15. Which advantage do hydrogen fuel cells have over standard batteries?

    • Do not run down
    • Require no oxygen
    • Produce solid waste
    • Contain no chemicals

  16. In a fuel cell, electrons released at the anode travel where?

    • External circuit
    • Internal electrolyte
    • Water reservoir
    • Cathode interior

  17. Which useful products are formed in a hydrogen fuel cell?

    • Electricity and carbon
    • Electricity and water
    • Water and hydrogen
    • Hydrogen and oxygen

  18. How do fuel cells differ fundamentally from simple chemical cells?

    • They use solid electrolytes
    • They use no electrodes
    • Reactants supplied externally
    • They produce no voltage

  19. Higher tier: For the anode reaction 2H2 -> 4H+ + 4e-, how many electrons are released?

    • 4
    • 1
    • 0
    • 2

  20. What are the products of a hydrogen fuel cell?

    • Hydrogen and oxygen
    • Hydrogen peroxide
    • Water only
    • Carbon dioxide and water

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