6.5 Fossil Fuels

What is the process of combustion in fossil fuels?

Combustion is the reaction of hydrocarbons with oxygen (O2) to release energy, producing carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O).

What are some examples of fossil fuels?

Methane (natural gas), gasoline, propane, butane, and coal.

What is the primary source of electricity production globally?

Coal is the #1 source, followed by natural gas.

What is cogeneration in electricity generation?

Cogeneration is the use of heat produced from electricity generation to provide heat for buildings, achieving close to 90% efficiency.

What is the efficiency of coal in generating electricity?

Coal is approximately 30% efficient as a fuel source for generating electricity.

What are the environmental consequences of burning coal?

Coal burning leads to habitat destruction, CO2 emissions, pollutants, toxic ash, and the release of sulfur and nitrogen oxides (SOx and NOx).

How does acid rain form?

Acid rain forms when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react with water in the atmosphere to create sulfuric and nitric acids, which precipitate with rain and snow.

What is an ore?

An ore is a commercially valuable deposit of concentrated minerals that can be harvested for raw materials.

What is the definition of 'reserve' in mining?

A reserve is the known amount of a resource left that can be mined, usually measured in years of extraction remaining.

What is overburden in the context of mining?

Overburden refers to the soil, vegetation, and rocks that are removed to access an ore deposit.

What are tailings and slag?

Tailings and slag are leftover waste materials separated from the valuable metal or mineral within an ore.

What are the environmental impacts of surface mining?

Surface mining can lead to habitat loss, topsoil erosion, increased stream turbidity, and air pollution.

What are the risks associated with subsurface mining?

Risks include poor ventilation, toxic gas exposure, mine shaft collapse, and injuries from falling rock.

What is acid mine drainage?

Acid mine drainage occurs when rainwater leaks into abandoned mine tunnels and mixes with pyrite, forming sulfuric acid.

What is a significant greenhouse gas released during coal mining?

Methane (CH4) is released during coal mining, contributing to climate change.

What is the process for generating electricity from fossil fuels?

The process involves heating water to create steam, which turns a turbine connected to a generator to produce electricity.

What is the efficiency of natural gas when burned to generate electricity?

Natural gas is approximately 60% efficient when burned for electricity generation.

How does mining affect air quality?

Mining can increase particulate matter (PM) in the air, leading to respiratory issues.

What is mountaintop removal mining?

Mountaintop removal mining is a type of surface mining that involves removing the summit of a mountain to access ore, causing significant environmental damage.

What happens to the toxic ash produced from burning coal?

Toxic ash is often taken to landfills or stored in ash ponds, which can leak into groundwater or soil.

What is the impact of mining on habitat?

Mining leads to habitat loss due to land clearing and disruption of ecosystems.

What effect does rainwater have on streams and groundwater when it carries sulfuric acid?

It lowers the pH of water, making toxic metals like mercury and aluminum more soluble, which can kill aquatic organisms.

What is mine reclamation?

The process of restoring land to its original state after mining, including restoring land contours, filling mine shafts, replanting native plants, and returning topsoil.

What does the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) regulate?

It regulates the environmental effects of coal mining, protecting the environment during mining and restoring it afterward.

How is oil extracted from underground deposits?

By drilling a well through rock layers and pumping liquid oil out under pressure.

What are tar sands?

A combination of clay, sand, water, and bitumen, from which oil can be extracted.

What are the environmental consequences of extracting oil from tar sands?

Habitat destruction, water depletion, water contamination from tailing ponds, and CO2 emissions from machinery.

What happens during a crude oil spill in water?

Crude oil covers the surface, clogs fish gills, suffocates marine animals, and sticks to bird feathers.

What were the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill?

Countless animal deaths, coastal marsh plant die-off leading to erosion, and devastated fisheries.

What are some potential solutions for cleaning up oil spills?

Physically removing oil with soap, using booms and skimmers, applying chemical dispersants, or burning oil on the surface.

What is fracking (hydraulic fracturing)?

A method to extract natural gas by drilling a vertical well that turns horizontally into sedimentary rock and using high-pressure fluid to crack the rock.

What is the difference between porosity and permeability in relation to natural gas extraction?

Porosity is the space that can hold liquid or gas, while permeability is the ability of liquid or gas to flow through rock.

What are some environmental consequences of fracking?

Well leaks contaminating groundwater, depletion of water sources, overflow of ponds contaminating water, and increased seismic activity.

What is the impact of habitat loss associated with fossil fuel extraction?

It leads to biodiversity loss and fragmentation of ecosystems.

What is the significance of methane (CH4) release during fracking?

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.

How does oil extraction from tar sands affect water resources?

It depletes nearby surface and groundwater needed for steam and washing impurities.

What are tailing ponds, and what risks do they pose?

Tailing ponds store wastewater and can overflow, contaminating nearby water sources with toxic substances.

What is the role of chemical dispersants in oil spill response?

They help break down oil before it can affect marine organisms.

What is the impact of oil spills on land?

They are toxic to plant roots and can contaminate surface and groundwater with hydrocarbons.

What are the long-term effects of habitat destruction from fossil fuel extraction?

Loss of biodiversity and disruption of ecosystem services.