fuel cell and battery reaction tips?

[H3_Internet]

Any quick and dirty ways of learning the different fuel cell and battery reactions without slogging over memorising?




Mod edit: thread title changed

[shinny]

Simple: Don't learn them; you're not expected to. Learn the principles instead and you'll be able to tackle any specific battery reactions they give you.

[scocliffe09]

Exactly what shinny said. All you need is
AN OIL RIG CAT
and to know that in galvanic cells anode is negative but in electrolysis anode is positive. From that you can work out which way electrons and thus ions are flowing. You can use the electrochemical series and what you are given in the question to work out half-cell reactions. Other than that, VCAA will (I think) try to find a cell no-one has seen before in order to test exactly what shinny said - your understanding of HOW everything works, not memorisation techniques.

[rk]

what guys? what are you talking about? don't you need this kind of stuff?

[shinny]

Nope. VCAA will always give you the reactions. You're just expected to apply the principles to whatever example they give.

[rk]

oh ok. I thought I remember exams where you had to use them!

anyway so while we're skirting around the topic can someone help me with this?

thanks shiny!

[shinny]

Honestly can't remember anything about these anymore Been too long. Anyone else?

[Martoman]

oh ok. I thought I remember exams where you had to use them!

anyway so while we're skirting around the topic can someone help me with this?

thanks shiny!

it isn't in direct contact per sey, like a normal galvanic cell isn't in direct contact. The lectrons flow through the outer and hit the cathod at the top.

[Mao]

If you look at the diagram carefully, there is a thin layer of ceramic that separates the metallic exterior from the electrode/mixture inside.

[Shark 774]

My teacher said to memorise the reactions that happen in acid and alkaline ones,
i.e. H2(g) --> 2H+(aq) + 2e-

should I bother?

[scocliffe09]

The main thing that people trip up on / are tricked by is balancing half equations in acidic vs. alkaline media. Just remember that you add H+ in acidic and OH- in alkaline and use the information they give you in the stem of the question plus (usually) H2O and electrons to balance the rest. You shouldn't need to memorise that

My teacher said to memorise the reactions that happen in acid and alkaline ones,
i.e. H2(g) --> 2H+(aq) + 2e-

should I bother?

reaction anyway because it's in the electrochemical series.