Question
The overall reaction of a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell is
A.
$$2{H_{2\left( g \right)}} + {O_{2\left( g \right)}} \to 2{H_2}{O_{\left( l \right)}}$$
B.
$$2{H_{2\left( g \right)}} + 4OH_{\left( {aq} \right)}^ - \to 4{H_2}{O_{\left( l \right)}} + 4{e^ - }$$
C.
$${O_{2\left( g \right)}} + 2{H_2}{O_{\left( l \right)}} + 4{e^ - } \to 4OH_{\left( {aq} \right)}^ - $$
D.
$$4OH_{\left( {aq} \right)}^ - + 4{e^ - } \to 2{H_2}{O_{\left( l \right)}}$$
Answer :
$$2{H_{2\left( g \right)}} + {O_{2\left( g \right)}} \to 2{H_2}{O_{\left( l \right)}}$$
Solution :
$$\eqalign{
& {\text{At anode :}}\,2{H_{2\left( g \right)}} + 4OH_{\left( {aq} \right)}^ - \to 4{H_2}{O_{\left( l \right)}} + 4{e^ - } \cr
& \underline {{\text{At cathode :}}\,{O_{2\left( g \right)}} + 2{H_2}{O_{\left( l \right)}} + 4{e^ - } \to 4OH_{\left( {aq} \right)}^ - } \cr
& \underline {{\text{Overall}}\,\,{\text{reaction}}\,{\text{:}}\,2{H_{2\left( g \right)}} + {O_{2\left( g \right)}} \to 2{H_2}{O_{\left( l \right)}}\,\,\,\,\,\,\,} \cr} $$