Final answer:
In a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell, oxygen atoms gain electrons while hydrogen atoms lose electrons. Hydrogen oxidation occurs at the anode and oxygen reduction takes place at the cathode. This process efficiently generates electricity with water as the only byproduct.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell, the correct statement is that oxygen atoms gain electrons and hydrogen atoms lose electrons. During the electrochemical reaction, hydrogen is oxidized at the anode, meaning it loses electrons, which then travel through an external circuit. At the cathode, oxygen is reduced by gaining these electrons and reacts with the hydrogen ions (protons) to form water as a byproduct. In this redox process, the fuel cell efficiently converts the chemical energy into electrical energy, providing power for various applications.
A solid electrolyte in the fuel cell allows the hydrogen ions to move from the anode to the cathode while preventing the electrons from passing through, forcing them to go around the external circuit creating an electrical current. The action of hydrogen losing electrons is referred to as oxidation while oxygen gaining electrons is termed reduction.