Section 11.2

Fossil Fuels

Fossil FuelsFossil FuelsNatural Natural

resources such resources such as coal, as coal, petroleum, and petroleum, and natural gas that natural gas that formed from the formed from the remains of living remains of living things.things.

Consist Primarily of HydrocarbonsConsist Primarily of Hydrocarbons

Chemical Chemical compounds that are compounds that are made up of made up of hydrogen and hydrogen and carbon. When carbon. When burned, energy is burned, energy is released.released.

CoalCoal

Formed by dead Formed by dead plants and other plants and other organisms in organisms in swamps where swamps where bacteria cannot bacteria cannot fully decompose fully decompose the organic the organic material. An material. An organic organic sedimentary rock.sedimentary rock.

Produced by CarbonizationProduced by Carbonization A process by which, after bacteria partially A process by which, after bacteria partially

decompose organic matter and gases are decompose organic matter and gases are released, at the final step only carbon released, at the final step only carbon remains. Each higher grade of coal remains. Each higher grade of coal contains a higher percentage of carbon.contains a higher percentage of carbon.

3 Main Types of Coal3 Main Types of Coal(the first is not (the first is not really really considered a considered a

coal)coal)

PeatPeat LigniteLignite Bituminous (or bitumen)Bituminous (or bitumen) AnthraciteAnthracite

Peat

Not really a coal. Plant material that is still being decomposed at the surface of the earth.

Lignite

• With the pressure of overlying sediments, water and gases are squeezed out and peat is turned into the first real coal, litgnite (also called brown coal).

Bitumenous CoalBitumenous Coal

With deeper burial, and thus more heat With deeper burial, and thus more heat and pressure, lignite forms this type, the and pressure, lignite forms this type, the most abundant type of coal.most abundant type of coal.

AnthraciteAnthracite

• Under metamorphic conditions (high T and P), anthracite coal is formed. Very high in carbon content (great for making steel).

The total amount of coal on Earth is estimated to be 10 trillion metric tons. This is about 10 times greater than our oil and

gas reserves combined!

The United States has more coal reserves than any other single country in the world. In fact, 1/4 of of all the known coal in the world is in the United States.

Coal is used primarily in the United States to generate electricity.

In fact, it is burned in power plants to produce more than half of the electricity we use.

If your family uses an electric stove, you use about half a ton of coal a year. If your water heater is electric, you are using about two tons of coal a year. If you have an electric refrigerator, that's another half-ton a year.

• Oil and natural gas were created from organisms that lived in the water and were buried under ocean or river sediments.

• Long after the great prehistoric seas, lakes, and rivers vanished, heat, pressure and bacteria combined to compress and "cook" the organic material under layers of silt.

• In most areas, a thick liquid called oil formed first, but in deeper, hot regions underground, the cooking process continued until natural gas was formed.

pressure

Heat

Bacteria

Almost all oil and natural gas are found deep underground in the tiny holes of rocks.

• Geologists and engineers use high-tech equipment to search for petroleum.

• When they think they've found it, they drill. If there really is oil or gas there, it's forced to the surface.

What common products come from oil (petrochemicals)?

http://www.api.org/edu/factsoil.htm#Petrochemicals

Natural GasNatural Gas Natural gas supplies 25 percent of all the

energy Americans consume. It's our second largest source of energy. Only oil provides more energy than natural gas.

Natural Gas

• Natural gas has many different uses. For example, industry uses it for heat and as a source of power. Power companies use it to make electricity.

• Many households rely on it for heating and cooking.

Fossil Fuels-Environmental Impacts

There are environmental problems associated with extracting, transporting, and using fossil fuels.

Extracting Fossil Fuels

The IXTOC I exploratory well blew out on June 3, 1979 in the Bay of Campeche. By the time the well was brought under control an estimated 140 million gallons of oil had

spilled into the bay.

The IXTOC I is currently #2 on the all-time list of largest oil spills of all-time, eclipsed only by the deliberate

release of oil, from many different sources, during the 1991 Gulf War.

Gulf War.

Transporting Fossil Fuels

On March 24, 1989 the tanker Exxon Valdez grounded on Bligh Reef in the upper part of Prince William Sound. The tanker was carrying approximately 53 million gallons of crude oil. Within a few days, almost 11 million gallons of the oil were spilled into Prince William Sound.

http://www.cutter.com/osir/biglist.htm

Significant amount of gasoline released

downstream and ignited by unknown source. Fires burning in isolated areas,

but under control.The cause of the product release and ignition are

under investigation.Three fatalities.

Whatcom Creek Fire- Bellingham, WA (6/10/99)Breech of 16-inch-diameter gasoline pipeline

adjacent to the City of Bellingham Water Treatment Facility in Whatcom Falls Park.

Results of Using Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels and Acid Rain Trapped inside fossil fuels are traces of

impurities like sulfur and nitrogen. When fossil fuels burn, these impurities are

released into the air. While floating in the air, these substances can combine with

water vapor (for example, in clouds) and form droplets that fall to earth as weak

forms of sulfuric and nitric acid – scientists call it "acid rain."

Effects of Acid Rain Acid rain can have the following environmental

effects:

• acidification of lakes and streams rendering some of them incapable of supporting aquatic life;

• impaired visibility in our national parks and cities,

• weakened forest health,

• degrade monuments and buildings.

• can cause respiratory and other health problems in people,

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3.

Fossil Fuels and Global Climate Changehttp://

www.epa.gov/globalwarming/kids/greenhouse.html

http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/kids/greenhouse.htmlVideo: Global Change: NOAA

11.2 Key Terms11.2 Key Terms11.2 Review, p. 11.2 Review, p. 201, #1-5201, #1-511.2 Worksheet11.2 Worksheet

Due MondayDue Monday