1. Anode: Oxidation ⚡️
At
the negative electrode,
called the anode,
hydrogen gas (H2) is
moved under pressure
Through a platinum catalyst
each H2 hydrogen molecule
is stripped
of its 2 electrons,
splitting "it" into
two positively charged
hydrogen ions two protons, H2+
and two electrons (e2−).
This is called the oxidation half-reaction
because the hydrogen atoms lose electrons
The protons are said to be
"too large"
to pass through the external circuit,
Protons travel through
a special membrane called
the proton-exchange membrane (PEM)
to reach the cathode.
The proton is said to "hop"
as in protolysis where the
proton is said to pop off
one thing and snap on to another
when the proton happens
to find itself in what
is often called water
The membrane is
going to have a negative charge
aka have excess electrons
looking to bind or bond
with excess protons
When not in solution
the proton is said
not to be able to move
and is not claimed to
move in a wire
or in
any metal
Electrons move
Protons organize
Providing movement
Hydrogen gas is indeed
"supplied" to the fuel cell's anode
under pressure.
This pressure is vital for two reasons:
Pressure ensures a steady flow
of reactants to the catalyst
protons and electrons to a current
and helps to increase the concentration
of split able hydrogen
at the electrode's surface,
which drives the reaction
of splitting hydrogen
forward.
How Platinum "Helps" to Separate Protons and Electrons
Platinum acts as a catalyst,
a
well formed
stable
lattice
of proton electron
configuration/s
that speeds up
aka
facilitates
a chemical reaction
which is the forming and
breaking of proton electron bonds
arranged in specific geometric form/s
without being consumed
in the process.
Platinum
helps to separate
the protons from the electrons
in a very specific way
by lowering
the activation energy required
to break the strong covalent bond
within the hydrogen molecule (H2).
Here's the step-by-step process at the molecular level:
Adsorption:
The hydrogen gas molecules
adsorb,
or
stick,
to the surface
of the platinum catalyst.
Bond Weakening:
The electronic structure
of the platinum atoms,
specifically their d-orbitals,
interacts with the hydrogen molecules.
This interaction pulls on the H-H bond, weakening it significantly.
Dissociation: Because the bond is now much weaker, the hydrogen molecule easily breaks apart, or dissociates, into two individual hydrogen atoms.
Ionization: These now-separated hydrogen atoms are very reactive. The platinum surface acts as an electron acceptor, making it easy for each hydrogen atom to give up its electron. This process transforms the neutral hydrogen atoms into positively charged protons (H^+) and free electrons (e^−).
In essence, the platinum provides a favorable pathway for the hydrogen molecules to break apart and release their electrons, a process that would otherwise require a massive amount of energy to happen spontaneously.
2. Cathode: Reduction 💧
The electrons,
unable to pass through "the membrane",
The membrane the Protons are passing through
The electro negative
collections of charges
that will push on
the "free" electrons
as the electrons are
said to be
forced
when in actual ity
they choose
the path of least resistance
to travel through
the external 'electrical'
wire to
to complete the circuit
at
the positive electrode
called the cathode.
This imaginary flow of electrons is
called the electrical current that powers a device.
At the cathode,
the electrons combine with
oxygen gas (O2)
from the air
and the protons
that passed through the membrane.
This is called the reduction half-reaction
because
oxygen gains electrons.
The combination of these three particles—
protons, electrons, and oxygen—
produces water (H2O) as the only byproduct.
O2 + 4H+ + 4e− = 2H2O
Overall Reaction
The combination
of the two half-reactions
shows the complete process.
For every two molecules of
hydrogen that
react,
one molecule of oxygen
is consumed
to produce
two molecules of water.
AKA
Applying a current to
The energy released
from this exothermic reaction
is observed as electricity and heat.
Comments
Post a Comment
No Comment