Kelvin Shang Chapter 19 Fossil Fuels

Coal

1. How do fossil fuels form?

When plants die and are preserved in sediments under particular conditions, the chemical energy is stored in the

form of fossil fuels.

2. What is the most abundant fossil fuel in the world? Coal.

3. What is the dirtiest form of fossil fuel? Coal.

4. What is a “Proven Recoverable Reserve”? What is it used for? A proven recoverable reserve is a dependable

source for renewable fossil fuel energy.

5. How is Coal responsible for Mercury, Lead, Sulfur Dioxide and acid rain?

6. What is the difference between Peat, Lignite, Bituminous, Subituminous and Anthracite?

Peat: not well-compressed organic material

Lignite: Least-compressed type of coal

Sub-bituminous: second least-compressed

Bituminous: Compressed coal

Anthracite: Most compressed

7. What are synfuels?

Fuel made from coal, corn, etc., as a substitute for a petroleum product.

8. How is “Clean Coal” cleaned?

Using scrubbers to remove SO2 and NOx.

9. List two health problems coal miners experience.

-Reduction in life expectancy

- Loss of IQ/memory from exposure to mercury

10. List 3 environmental problems that come from coal Mining.

-Global warming (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide)

-Ecosystem loss and degradation, with negative effects on health and quality of life

-Drastic alteration of the landscape, particularly with mountaintop removal

Oil/Petroleum

11. What is the difference between Sweet, Light Crude and Heavy Sour Crude oil?

Sweet: mild vegetable oil used in foods

Light crude: liquid petroleum that has a low density and flows freely at room temperature.

Heavy sour crude: crude oil containing the impurity sulfur

12. What is Hubbert’s Peak? When do scientists think we reached it?

It is the predicted peak of oil production. Scientists predict that we will reach it in the coming decade.

13. What is ANWR and why is it an issue?

It is a national wildlife refuge in northeastern Alaska. Many scientists anticipate damage to vegetation and wildlife if

drilling takes place in ANWR.

14. What was the Exxon Valdez and why is it an issue?

The Exxon Valdez oil spill was one of the biggest crude oil spills in history. The region (Prince William Sound) is a

habitat for salmon, sea otters, seals and seabirds, of which all were affected by habitat destruction and health

hazards.

15. What happens when oil is refined?

The various hydrocarbons of crude oil are separated and sorted to serve various purposes.

16. Why is it difficult to build more refineries?

Environmentalists have successfully encouraged Congress to pass law after law effectively imposing rigorous

restrictions on the construction of refineries that companies have decided that they cannot afford to build more.

17. What is Kerogen and where does it come from?

It’s a mixture of organic chemical compounds that make up a portion of the organic matter in sedimentary rocks.

Natural Gas

18. Where in the world are the largest reserves of Natural Gas found?

Russia, Iran, U.S

19. What is CNG? What is LNG?

CNG: compressed natural gas

LNG: Liquefied natural gas.

20. Why is Natural Gas so difficult to transport?

It has a low density with high energy content. It must be liquefied or compressed.

21. What is “Fracking”?

A drilling technique which involves injecting toxic chemicals, sand, and millions of gallons of water under high

pressure directly into the ground to release natural gas in shale deposits.

Oil Shale and Tar Sands

22. What is oil shale?

Fine-grained sedimentary rock from which oil can be extracted.

23. What are tar sands?

A deposit of sand impregnated with bitumen.

24. What particular environmental problems do they create?

Depletion of water resources, air pollution (greenhouse gas emissions), excessive waste, clearing of land and habitat