Energy changes, and reversible reactions

9.4 Giving out energy as electricity

Electricity: a form of energy
Electricity is a current of electrons. Like heat, it is a form of energy.
When you burn a fuel, chemical energy is converted to heat.
But a reaction can also give out energy as electricity.

Electricity from a redox reaction

bulb bulb bulb

strip of strip of
magnesium copper magnesium bubbles of
dilute
dissolving hydrogen
solution of
sodium chloride

Connect a strip of magnesium, Now stand the strips in a dilute At the same time bubbles of
a strip of copper, and a light bulb, solution of sodium chloride. hydrogen start to form on the
like this. (Note: no battery!) Something amazing happens: the copper strip, and the magnesium
Nothing happens. bulb lights! A current is flowing. strip begins dissolving.

So what is going on?

1 M
 agnesium is more reactive than copper.  (See the list on the right.)
That means it has a stronger drive to form ions. So the magnesium Order of reactivity !
atoms give up electrons, and go into solution as ions: This shows the order of reactivity of
Mg (s) Mg2 1
(aq) 1 2e 
2
(magnesium is oxidised) some metals compared to hydrogen:
potassium
2 The electrons flow along the wire to the copper strip, as a current.
1 2 sodium
3 The solution contains Na  and Cl ions from sodium chloride, and
some H 1 and OH 2 ions from water. Hydrogen is less reactive calcium
than sodium, so the H1 ions accept electrons from the copper strip: magnesium
1 2 aluminium increasing
2H (aq) 1 2e  H2 ( g) (hydrogen ions are reduced)
reactivity
zinc
So a redox reaction is giving out energy in the form of a current.
iron
A simple cell hydrogen
The metal strips, wire, and beaker of solution above form a simple cell. copper
Electrons flow from the magnesium strip, so it is called the negative pole.
silver
The copper strip is the positive pole. The solution is the electrolyte.
A simple cell consists of two metals and an electrolyte. The more
reactive metal is the negative pole of the cell. Electrons flow from it.
Remember! !
Other metals can also be used, as long as they differ in reactivity.  In electrolysis, a current brings
And any solution can be used, as long as it contains ions. about a reaction.
You could connect a voltmeter into the circuit, to measure the voltage.  In simple cells, reactions produce

The bigger the difference in reactivity of the metals, the larger the voltage, a current.
and the more brightly the bulb will light. Find out more on page 190.

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 Energy changes, and reversible reactions

The hydrogen fuel cell

In the hydrogen fuel cell, hydrogen and oxygen combine without burning.
It is a redox reaction. The energy is given out as an electric current. flow of electrons the current can be
Like the simple cell, the fuel cell has used to light a home
or power a car
a negative pole that gives out electrons,
a positive pole that accepts them, and
an electrolyte. – +
Both poles are made of carbon.
The negative pole is surrounded by H2 (g) from tank O2 (g) from air

hydrogen, and the positive pole by the electrolyte is hot the carbon electrodes
oxygen (in air). The electrolyte potassium hydroxide solution contain a catalyst

contains OH 2 ions. H2O (g) H2O (g)

water vapour driven out

At the negative pole At the positive pole

Hydrogen loses electrons to the OH2 ions. It is oxidised: The electrons are accepted by oxygen molecules.
Oxygen is reduced to OH 2 ions:
 2H2 ( g) 1 4OH  (aq)
2
4H2O (l ) 1 4e 
2

  O2 ( g) 1 2H2O (l ) 1 4e 2 4OH 2 (aq)

A current of electrons flows through the wire to the positive pole.
You can make use of it on the way. For example, pass it through But the concentration of OH2 ions in the electrolyte does
light bulbs to light your home. not increase. Why not?

Adding the two half-equations gives the full equation for the redox reaction:
2H2 ( g) 1 O2 ( g) 2H2O (l )
So the overall reaction is that hydrogen and oxygen combine to form water.

Advantages of the hydrogen fuel cell 

 Only water is formed. No pollutants!
 T
 he reaction gives out plenty of energy. 1 kg of
hydrogen gives about 2.5 times as much energy as
1 kg of natural gas (methane).
 We will not run out of hydrogen. It can be made by
the electrolysis of water with a little acid added.
Solar power could provide cheap electricity for this.
Scientists also hope to make it from waste plant
material, using bacteria.

But there is a drawback. Hydrogen is very flammable.

A spark or lit match will cause a mixture of hydrogen
and air to explode. So it must be stored safely.  This car has a hydrogen fuel cell instead of a petrol engine.

Q
1 Can you get electricity from a non-redox reaction? Explain.
2 In a simple cell, which metal gives up electrons to produce
the current: the more reactive or less reactive one?
3 A wire connects strips of magnesium and copper, standing
in an electrolyte. Bubbles appear at the copper strip. Why?
4 You connect two strips of iron using wire, and stand them
in an electrolyte. Will a current flow? Explain your answer.
5 a In the hydrogen fuel cell, what is the fuel?
b How are the electrons transferred in this cell?
c What type of electrolyte is used?

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