Question

(i) Name the products released when coal and petroleum are burnt.
(ii) List some important uses of coal and petroleum.
(iii) Why do we need to conserve coal and petroleum?
(iv) Name a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.

Answer 1

Coal and petroleum:

1. Coal and petroleum are generated when ancient plant life that lived millions of years ago decomposes.
2. These decomposing plant materials began to accumulate, eventually producing peat.
3. Heat and pressure from geological processes turned these minerals into coal over time.

(i) The following are the byproducts of coal and petroleum combustion:

1. Carbon dioxide, water, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur oxides.

(ii) Important uses of coal and petroleum:

Coal is primarily used for the following purposes:

1. Coal is used as a fuel for electricity generation, steel manufacture, cement manufacturing, metal extraction plants, and steam-powered turbines.
2. Coal gasification and coal liquefaction are used to produce synthetic fuel. It contains benzene, toluene, aniline, phenol, naphthalene, and anthracene among other chemicals.

The following are some of the most important applications for petroleum:

1. Petrol and diesel are the primary energy sources for all forms of contemporary transportation vehicles.
2. Gas turbines generate power using diesel and gasoline. Lighter grades of oil, such as kerosene, are still used in the home. LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) is a type of cooking gas.

(iii) Conservation of coal and petroleum:

1. We must conserve coal and petroleum because they are nonrenewable energy sources that require millions of years to generate.
2. As a result, they cannot be replenished fast.

(iv) A greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming is Carbon dioxide.