In which year was the first fuel cell designed?

• A. The year, 1839
• B. 1739
• C. 1939
• D. 1639

Answer: (A)

The question tests the historical origin of fuel cells and when the first practical design was created. In 1839, Sir William Grove built the first fuel cell, known as Grove’s gas voltaic cell. He used hydrogen and oxygen separated by an electrolyte to generate electricity directly from a chemical reaction, producing water as a byproduct. This established the fundamental idea of converting chemical energy from fuel directly into electrical energy without combustion, making 1839 the landmark year for the birth of fuel-cell technology. The other dates don’t fit the historical timeline: 1639 and 1739 are far too early for this technology, and 1939 refers to a later stage in the field, not its inception.