[CraigH]

In a fuel cell hydrogen is split into protons and electrons catalytically, usually with platinum.

If hydrogen fuel is flowing over the catalyst, how can I predict the number of reactions that will occur?

I'm most interested in how it depends on the surface area of the contact between the hydrogen fuel and the catalyst.

Thanks!

p.s I'm an electrical engineering student, not a chemist, so I hope I've posted this question in the correct forum. I've also posted this question here http://chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/24158/relationship-between-surface-area-of-electrode-and-reaction-rate-of-hydrogen-in, but I really need an answer before tomorrow morning so I hope you don't mind me posting it here as well!

[Arkcon]

Welcome, CraigH: to the Chemical Forums.  According to the Forum Rules{click}, we want to see your attempt.  That you're in a hurry, and don't really know the basics, but really want the answer, aren't details our group has to concern itself with.

We don't typically think of these sorts of processes as "number of reactions" that will occur.  With a little poking around, you'll soon learn that these are astronomical numbers, that really don't answer anything.  You'll have to think about this question in some other way.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avogadro_constant