Correct Option
Statement 1 is correct. When pure hydrogen is used as a fuel in a fuel cell, it reacts electrochemically with oxygen. This process generates electricity, with water (H₂O) and heat as the primary by-products. This characteristic contributes to hydrogen fuel cells being considered a clean energy technology, as they do not emit greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide.
Incorrect Options
Statement 2 is incorrect. Fuel cells are versatile and scalable, capable of powering a broad spectrum of applications. These range from large-scale uses like powering buildings and vehicles to small electronic devices such as laptop computers and mobile phones. The claim that they are not suitable for small electronic devices is incorrect, as miniature fuel cells have been developed specifically for portable and off-grid applications.
Statement 3 is incorrect. Fuel cells intrinsically produce electricity in the form of Direct Current (DC). The statement that they produce Alternating Current (AC) is incorrect. If Alternating Current (AC) is required for specific applications, an inverter must be used to convert the DC output to AC.