Question

To which category of resources do coal and petroleum belong?

Answer 1

Coal is a black hard rock, flammable in nature. It belongs to the category of solid fossil fuels because of its ignition property. It consists of 65-95% carbon. The other constituents include hydrogen, sulphur, oxygen and nitrogen. Coal is formed from the remains of plants which lived millions of years ago in tropical regions of the Earth. Due to natural processes such as flooding, these trees got buried under the soil. With time, more and more soil got deposited over them. The temperature rose with depth. Under the high conditions of temperature and pressure over a long period of time, these remains of dead vegetation got converted to coal. The process of conversion of dead vegetation to coal is termed as canonization.

Types

Coal can be divided into four types, based on their carbon content and ignition rate. In this section, we shall learn about the stages through which coal is formed.

Peat: Peat is a heterogeneous mixture of partially decomposed organic matter that has accumulated in a water-saturated environment in the absence of oxygen. Peat is used for its highly absorbent property towards fuel. The carbon content in peat is less than 60%.

Lignite: When peat gets transformed into a rock, it forms lignite. Lignite is the lowest rank of coal in terms of carbon content and efficiency. It is mainly used for electric powergeneration. It has a carbon content of nearly 60% – 70%.

Bituminous: When lignite is subjected to high temperature and pressure, the process of organic metamorphism takes place, where oxygen and hydrogen content of the matter decrease, thus increasing the carbon content. The carbon content of bituminous coal ranges from 77-87%. It is used as a fuel in steam-electric power generation and for heat and power applications in manufacturing industries.

Anthracite: Anthracite is considered the highest quality of coal. It has a carbon content of 87% or more. It is hard and glossy in nature and has the highest heating value. It is mainly used for residential and commercial purposes.

Petroleum

Petroleum is a naturally occurring, yellow to brown liquid found in geological formations beneath the Earth’s surface. It consists of 93-97% Carbon. The other constituents include hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulphur. Petroleum is formed from the remains of zooplanktons and algae. Vast quantities of these remains settled at the lake or sea bottoms upon mixing with sediments got buried in the absence of oxygen. With further layer settling to the sea or lake bed, they got subjected to high temperature and pressure. Over time, the organic matter changes to a waxy material known as kerogen and then with more heat, into liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons. Formation of petroleum occurs from the hydrocarbon with various reactions at high temperature and pressure.

Crude petroleum oil is further distilled to obtain gasoline (petrol), kerosene, butane, diesel, LPG etc. apart from asphalt and other chemical reagents.

Uses of Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels are used to fuel cars and airplanes, power electricity plants, to make medicines, cosmetics, plastics, synthetic fibres and lubricants and also in the manufacture of products for everyday use such as toothpaste, tires etc.

Disadvantages

Environmental hazards

When fossil fuels are burnt, carbon dioxide is released, which is one of the primary gases responsible for global warming. The rise in the temperature of Earth, melting of polar ice caps and flooding in low-lying areas are the major consequences.



Environmental hazards due to Fossil fuels

Acid Rain

Sulphur dioxide is released when fossil fuels are burnt. It is one of the main causes of acid rain, which results in the destruction of crops and monuments made up of marbles and bricks.



Impact on aquatic life

Oil spills resulting from the drowning of oil tankers and ships cause water pollution in seas and oceans. This, in turn, results in the destruction of aquatic life and imbalance in the ecosystem.



Non renewability

The reserve for fossil fuels is limited and they are being extracted at an exorbitant rate and are expected to be finished in the next 30-40 years.

So, the fossil fuels- coal and petroleum are important. They have been playing a pivotal role in making the world look the way it looks today ever since their discovery. To learn more about Coal and Petroleum, click here for NCER

Answer 2

coal and petrol belong to non renewable resources