Coal And Petroleum

Exercises

1. What are the advantages of using CNG and LPG as fuels?

Ans-CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) and LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) have several advantages as alternative fuels:

  1. Environmental Benefits: Both CNG and LPG produce fewer emissions compared to traditional gasoline or diesel. They emit lower levels of pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and greenhouse gases. This contributes to cleaner air quality and reduces the carbon footprint.
  2. Cost Efficiency: Generally, CNG and LPG tend to be more cost-effective than conventional fuels. They often have lower prices per energy unit, which can result in substantial savings, especially for vehicles that cover long distances or operate continuously.
  3. Abundance and Availability: Natural gas, the primary component of CNG, is relatively abundant and is available in many parts of the world. LPG is a byproduct of natural gas processing and crude oil refining, making it widely accessible and less dependent on specific geographic regions for production.
  4. Reduced Engine Wear: CNG and LPG burn more cleanly than gasoline or diesel, leading to reduced engine wear and potentially longer engine life. This is due to fewer contaminants in these fuels, resulting in less residue buildup within the engine.
  5. Domestic Production: Many countries strive for energy independence, and both CNG and LPG can be produced domestically. This reduces reliance on imported oil and contributes to a more secure energy supply.
  6. Compatibility with Engines: CNG and LPG can be used in modified internal combustion engines with relatively few alterations. This makes the conversion of existing vehicles to use these fuels easier compared to some other alternative fuels.
  7. Versatility: Both fuels can be used in a wide range of applications, including vehicles (cars, buses, trucks), industrial heating, and even residential use for cooking and heating.

CNG and LPG offer several significant advantages in terms of environmental impact, cost savings, and versatility as alternative fuel options.

2. Name the petroleum product used for surfacing of roads.

Ans-The petroleum product commonly used for surfacing roads is known as asphalt, or more specifically, asphalt concrete or bituminous asphalt. It’s a mixture primarily composed of bitumen (a sticky, black, semi-solid form of petroleum) and mineral aggregates like gravel, sand, and crushed stone. Asphalt is applied as a hot liquid and solidifies as it cools, providing a durable and weather-resistant surface for roads and other paved areas.

3. Describe how coal is formed from dead vegetation. What is this process called?

Ans-Coal is formed through a process called coalification, which begins with the accumulation of dead plant matter in swamps or marshes. Here’s a breakdown of how this occurs:

  1. Formation of Peat: Dead vegetation, such as trees, ferns, and other plant materials, accumulates in a low-oxygen environment, like a swamp or bog. As these plants die, they fall into the water and are not fully decomposed due to the lack of oxygen and microbial action. Over time, this accumulated organic matter compacts and forms a substance known as peat.
  2. Transformation into Lignite: As more layers of sediment accumulate on top of the peat, the increased pressure and heat from the overlying layers start to transform the peat. This process, known as coalification, gradually converts the peat into different types of coal. The first stage of coalification results in lignite, which is a relatively soft and brownish-black coal. It contains a high moisture content and is the least carbon-rich among the coal types.
  3. Formation of Sub-Bituminous, Bituminous, and Anthracite Coal: With further burial and the continuing effects of pressure and heat, lignite undergoes additional coalification stages. It progresses into sub-bituminous coal, then bituminous coal, which is harder and has a higher carbon content than lignite. Finally, under more intense heat and pressure, bituminous coal transforms into anthracite, which is the hardest and highest in carbon content among coals.

This process of coal formation, from dead vegetation to peat and through various stages of coalification, occurs over millions of years. The resulting coal types vary in properties like carbon content, energy density, and uses.

The process of coal formation is part of a broader geological process called sedimentary rock formation, specifically within the subclass of sedimentary rocks known as organic sedimentary rocks.

 4. Fill in the blanks.

(a) Fossil fuels are  __________ ,  __________ , and __________ .

(b) The process of separation of different constituents from petroleum is called __________ .

(c) The least polluting fuel for a vehicle is __________ .

Ans-(a) Fossil fuels Coal, Petroleum, and natural gas.

(b) The process of separation of different constituents from petroleum is called refining.

(c) The least polluting fuel for a vehicle is Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

5. Tick True/False against the following statements.

(a) Fossil fuels can be made in the laboratory. (T/F)

ANS–false

(b) CNG is a more polluting fuel than petrol. (T/F)

ANS– false

(c) Coke is the most pure form of carbon. (T/F)

ANS –true

(d) Coal tar is a mixture of various substances. (T/F)

ANS–true

(e) Kerosene is not a fossil fuel. (T/F)

ANS– false

Que 6. Explain why fossil fuels are exhaustible natural resources

Fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and natural gas, are exhaustible natural resources for several reasons:

  • Formation Takes Millions of Years: Fossil fuels are formed from organic materials (like ancient plants and animals) that undergo a slow decomposition process over millions of years under specific geological conditions. Given the timescale required for their formation, they cannot be readily replaced on a human timescale.
  • Finite Reserves: The Earth has a finite amount of fossil fuel reserves. While these reserves are vast, they are still limited. Continuous extraction .
  • Extraction Rates Exceed Formation Rates: The rate at which we extract fossil fuels significantly exceeds the rate at which they form naturally.
  • Environmental Impact: The environmental impact of extracting and burning fossil fuels is substantial. Aside from depletion concerns, their combustion releases greenhouse gases and other pollutants, contributing to climate change, air and water pollution, and various environmental issues.
  • Geopolitical and Economic Factors: Fossil fuels are often concentrated in specific regions or countries. This concentration can lead to geopolitical tensions and economic dependencies on these resource

. Que 7 Describe the characteristics and uses of coke.

Coke is a fuel and a carbon-rich solid material that’s produced by heating coal in the absence of air. It’s primarily composed of carbon, with small amounts of other elements like sulfur and ash. Here are its characteristics and uses:

  1. High Carbon Content: Coke is composed mainly of carbon, usually above 90%. This high carbon content makes it a valuable fuel for high-temperature industrial processes.
  2. Porosity: It has a porous structure, which helps in providing a large surface area for combustion and gasification processes.
  3. High Heat and Energy Content: Due to its high carbon content, coke burns at high temperatures, making it useful for industrial applications that require intense heat, like steelmaking in blast furnaces.
  4. Low Volatility: Coke is relatively stable and has low volatility compared to coal. This stability makes it suitable for applications where controlled burning or consistent heat is required.

Uses of Coke:

  • Steel Production: One of the primary uses of coke is in the steelmaking process. It’s used as a fuel and a reducing agent in blast furnaces to convert iron ore into molten iron. The high carbon content and ability to generate high temperatures make it essential in this process.
  • Fuel: Coke can be used as a fuel in various industries that require high temperatures, such as cement production, non-ferrous metal smelting, and in some cases, household heating.
  • Chemical Industry: Coke is also used in the chemical industry as a raw material for the production of various chemicals, including carbon electrodes used in the production of aluminum and other metals.
  • Domestic Heating: Historically, coke was used for domestic heating in households. However, this use has decreased significantly with the availability of cleaner and more convenient heating sources.

Coke’s significance lies in its ability to provide high heat intensity without significant emissions, making it indispensable in certain industrial processes, particularly in steelmaking, though efforts to reduce reliance on carbon-intensive fuels have spurred research into alternative materials and cleaner processes.

8. Explain the process of the formation of petroleum.

Soln: Petroleum formation is a complex geological process that takes millions of years and involves the transformation of organic matter into hydrocarbons. Here’s a simplified explanation:

1. Organic Matter Accumulation: The process begins with the accumulation of organic matter, such as plankton, algae, and other microscopic organisms, in ancient seas or oceans. These organic materials settle at the bottom of these bodies of water.

2. Covering and Pressure: Over time, layers of sediment, like mud, silt, and sand, accumulate on top of these organic deposits. The weight of these accumulating layers exerts tremendous pressure on the organic matter below.

3. Heat and Pressure: As more layers of sediment pile up, the increasing pressure and heat from the Earth’s crust start to transform the organic matter. This process, known as diagenesis, initiates the conversion of organic material into hydrocarbons.

4. Thermal Decomposition: At certain depths within the Earth’s crust, the organic matter undergoes thermal decomposition due to the heat and pressure. This transformation involves complex chemical reactions, breaking down the organic matter into simpler molecules, mainly hydrocarbons.

5. Migration and Trapping: The newly formed hydrocarbons, primarily in the form of crude oil, natural gas, and some solid forms like kerogen, start to migrate through porous rocks in search of spaces where they can accumulate. They move upward due to their lower density, often being trapped in porous rocks, such as sandstone or limestone, beneath impermeable layers of rock (like shale or salt).

6. Maturation and Reservoir Formation: Over time, if the conditions are suitable, these trapped hydrocarbons accumulate in reservoirs or rock formations, forming deposits of oil and natural gas that can be economically extracted.

It’s important to note that petroleum formation is a lengthy and intricate process that involves specific geological conditions and takes millions of years. The process also occurs in specific environments, such as marine sediments, where the necessary organic materials can accumulate and undergo the transformation into hydrocarbons under heat and pressure.

This accumulated and transformed organic material eventually becomes the source of the petroleum deposits that we extract for various uses, such as fuel for transportation, heating, and as a feedstock for the production of various petrochemical products.

Dead organisms that got buried in the sea millions of years ago got covered with layers of sand and clay. Due to lack of air, high temperature and high pressure, these dead organisms got transformed into petroleum and natural gas.

Que 9-The following table shows the total power shortage in India from 1993–1999. Show the data in the form of a graph. Plot shortage percentage for the years on the Y-axis and the year on the X-axis.

S. No.  Year   Shortage (%)

1.       1993  7.7

2.       1994  7.5

3.       1995  8.2

4.       1996  7.1

5.       1997  7.7

6.       1998  9.1

7.       1999  11.2

Ans-

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