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Coal and Petroleum and natural resources. According to the accessibility of resources in nature, natural resources are classified into two categories namely- inexhaustible natural resources and exhaustible natural resources. Resources that are found in abundance and that don't get depleted soon are inexhaustible natural resources. For example air, sunlight. Resources that are generated in limited quantities and that take a long time to replenish are known as exhaustible natural resources. Examples- coal and petroleum that is used as fuel.
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Keywords: Coal and petroleum, Fossil fuels, coal, petroleum, resources, carbon, fuels
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What are Fossil Fuels?
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Substances that are burnt to generate energy are known as fuels.To release energy, fuels react with oxygen and burn. Fossil fuels are obtained from decaying plants and animals. Natural gas, coal and petroleum are examples of fossil fuels. When burned, fossil fuels release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses. The released gasses then trap heat in the atmosphere contributing to global warming and change in the climate. Fossil fuels are mainly used for the production of energy. They provide electricity and heat. Coal, petroleum, wood, cow dung, diesel, etc are different types of fuels used for multiple purposes at industries, home and running automobiles.
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Coal
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Coal is a hard stone that is black in colour. It is composed of carbon. Coal is formed by decaying vegetation under heat and pressure. This process of formation is called carbonisation. The time period under which the process takes place is called the carboniferous age. Coal consists of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and a small amount of sulphur.
Types
- Lignite: Lignite, in terms of carbon content, is the lowest rank of coal. It appears in shades of brown. As a result of this, it is otherwise known as brown coal. It is used in generating electricity, synthetic natural gas and in the creation of fertilizer products like ammonium sulphate and anhydrous ammonia.
- Sub-bituminous: Sub-bituminous coal appears as grey-black or dark brown in colour. It represents an intermediate stage between low-quality lignite and high-quality bituminous coal, so it ranges from hard to soft. Sub-bituminous coals are approximately 251 million years old. These are used in generating electricity and for industrial purposes.
- Bituminous: Bituminous appears black in colour. It contains up to 85% of carbon. It is used for heating purposes and generating electricity, manufacturing cement and other industrial purposes.
- Anthracite: An anthracite is a superior form of coal. It contains the highest percentage of carbon i.e 85%. It is harder than bituminous. It is used to provide energy.
Coke, coal tar and coal gas are some useful products obtained from coal. Coal is flammable and is considered to be solid fossil fuel.
Uses
The following are important applications for coal:
- Generation of electricity
- Steel production
- Chemical production
- Metal production
- Cement production
- Gasification
- Liquefaction
- Used to make Coke
- Used as fuels at home and industries
- Other industry purposes
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Petroleum
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Petroleum is a natural resource that is used to generate petrol and diesel. Petroleum is otherwise called crude oil. As the petroleum extracted from oil wells cannot be used directly. It is impure and therefore called crude oil. Petroleum appears yellow to brown liquid in color, a liquid fossil fuel composed of a variety of hydrocarbons. It is found under the ocean beds between layers of non-porous rocks.
Fractional distillation is a process through which crude oil is refined where different hydrocarbons get unconnected to form different fractions. Some examples are - petrol, diesel, kerosene.
Petroleum is made up of the remains of sea-dwelling organisms. Their bodies settle down at the bottom of the sea and get covered with layers of sand. The dead creatures transform into petroleum and natural gas due to a lack of oxygen, high pressure, and temperature. Gasoline, tar, kerosene, diesel oil, heavy fuel oil, lubricants, paraffin wax are a few products obtained from petroleum.
Uses
- Domestic products like detergents, Vaseline, etc are used which are derived from petroleum.
- Kerosene is used in the kitchen and for other household chores.
- Petroleum is used in transportation
- Lubricants
- Petroleum gas (LPG) is used in cooking and in some industries.
- Used as ointments, candles, etc.
- Road surfacing and paints.
- Power generation
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Conservation of Coal and Petroleum
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Coal and petroleum are widely used as sources of energy throughout the world. To conserve it for a longer period of time we can switch to alternative sources of energy like wind energy, geothermal energy, hydel power, etc. In the upcoming days, fossil fuels like coal and petroleum will give us more environmentally friendly options for sustainable development. Coal and petroleum should be used wisely to make it last for more than a few decades.
Steps are being taken to limit coal and petroleum consumption:
- Switch off lights, fans, electric appliances when not in use.
- Use a staircase instead of a lift. This will save electricity.
- Solar cookers should be used to cook whenever possible.
- Bicycles should be used for short distances to save petrol.
- In rural areas, the use of biogas as a domestic fuel should be encouraged.
- Pressure cookers should be used while cooking food to save fuels such as kerosene and LPG.
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Things to Remember
- When coal is old, the content of carbon in it is higher.
- Carbon dioxide gas is produced when coal is burnt.
- The extraction of coal cost is high, while the extraction of petroleum cost is low.
- Coal and petroleum resources are limited.
- About 40% of petroleum is used to produce the world's electricity.
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Solved Questions
Ques. Mention three differences between coal and petroleum. (3 marks)
Ans. The difference between coal and petroleum is as follows:
(a) Coal exists in the form of a solid-state, while petroleum exists in the form of a liquid state.
(b) Extraction of coal cost is high, whereas extraction of petroleum cost is low.
(c) Coal is cheap in price, petroleum is expensive.
Ques. What are Fossil fuels used for? (3 marks)
Ans. Fossil fuels are used to generate energy, power cars, manufacture goods, and generate electricity.
Fossil fuels are essential for human survival since they are utilized for heating, transportation, energy generation, and the production of cosmetics, computers, paint, and household goods.
Ques. What are the problems caused by using fossil fuels? (3 marks)
Ans. The problems caused by using fossils fuels are listed below:
- Too much consumption of fossil fuels can lead to environmental issues like pollution, greenhouse gasses emissions, global warming.
- As fossil fuels release carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, etc this leads to major health problems.
- Over the years, fossil fuels have led to extreme accidents.
Ques. What are the advantages and disadvantages of coal? (3 marks)
Ans. Advantages:
- Coal is the most affordable fossil fuel.
- Coal generates 40% of global electricity
- Coal reports for 30% of the world's energy supply
Disadvantages:
- Coal produces harmful wastes including nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, sulphuric acid, and arsenic
- Pneumoconiosis in coal workers; black lung disease, is most commonly known disease occurs when coal dust settles on lungs after prolonged exposure
- Other diseases occurs in workers like - lung cancer, respiratory disease, congestive heart failure, nervous system damage due to increase in mercury levels
Ques. Mention a few products obtained from petroleum. Petroleum has some benefits as compared to coal. Mention some of the benefits. (3 marks)
Ans. More than 6,000 petroleum products are a part of our everyday lives. Products like Kerosene, diesel fuel, gasoline, propane, fuel oil, lubricants, liquefied natural gas, paraffin wax, naphtha, butane, microcrystalline wax, petroleum wax, petroleum jelly, etc.
Benefits of Petroleum compared to coal:
- The extraction process is easier than coal
- Petroleum has a wide range of use than coal
- Petroleum is a high-density fuel
- Petroleum can be stored, shipped to long distances
Ques. Define the following: Carbonization, Peat (3 marks)
Ans. Carbonization is a process of the formation of coal. As coal is formed by decaying vegetation under heat and pressure, the dead plants gradually turn into coal. This conversion of dead plants into coal is a process called carbonization.
Peat is the inferior variety of coal. It contains a high amount of moisture and less than 40% of carbon. When peat is burnt, it produces a lot of smoke. The peat formation is the first step in the formation of coal.
Ques. List out the advantages and disadvantages of Petroleum. (3 marks)
Ans. Advantages:
- It can be extracted at low cost
- Easily transported
- It is used to power machines of all types, including heavy equipment, vehicles, etc
- It is a powerful source of energy
- It has high-density
Disadvantages:
- Petroleum is a limited resource
- It contributes to polluting the environment
- Transport can cause oil spill
- Sustains growth of terrorism, as oil money is used in funding terrorist organization
Ques. State the characteristics and uses of coke. (3 marks)
Ans. Characteristics of coke are
- The pure form of carbon
- It is made by heating coal in the lack of air
- It burns without producing smoke
Uses:
- It is employed in the extraction of several metals.
- It is used as a fuel
- It's utilized in the production of steel.
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