Fuel cell (EC - Electrochemical cell) is specific for what?

Fuel cell (EC - Electrochemical cell) is specific for what?

• A. Nicotine
• B. Sugar
• C. Alcohol
• D. CO2

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that a fuel cell in an electrochemical sensor is built to oxidize a specific fuel and turn that chemical reaction into an electrical signal. In sensors like breath alcohol detectors, the working electrode is designed with a catalyst that efficiently oxidizes ethanol (alcohol). When ethanol is present, it undergoes oxidation at the electrode, releasing electrons and creating a current that is proportional to the alcohol concentration. Substances such as nicotine, sugar, or CO2 do not produce the same readily oxidizable reaction under the sensor conditions, so they don’t generate the same strong electrochemical response. In short, this type of fuel cell is targeted for alcohol because ethanol provides the readily detectable, electrochemically active fuel that the sensor is optimized to measure.

The key idea is that a fuel cell in an electrochemical sensor is built to oxidize a specific fuel and turn that chemical reaction into an electrical signal. In sensors like breath alcohol detectors, the working electrode is designed with a catalyst that efficiently oxidizes ethanol (alcohol). When ethanol is present, it undergoes oxidation at the electrode, releasing electrons and creating a current that is proportional to the alcohol concentration. Substances such as nicotine, sugar, or CO2 do not produce the same readily oxidizable reaction under the sensor conditions, so they don’t generate the same strong electrochemical response. In short, this type of fuel cell is targeted for alcohol because ethanol provides the readily detectable, electrochemically active fuel that the sensor is optimized to measure.