Fossil Fuels - AP Environmental Science

Fly ash. Fine particles of ash produced when coal burns in power plants.

Water pollution and harm to marine life. Oil coats marine organisms and disrupts ecosystems.

Coal is primarily used for electricity generation. Coal burns in power plants to produce electrical energy.

Natural gas. Produces fewer pollutants and CO₂ per unit energy than coal or oil.

Fly ash. Fine particles of ash produced when coal burns in power plants.

Natural gas. Methane provides hydrogen for ammonia-based fertilizer synthesis.

Release of greenhouse gases causing climate change. CO₂ and other emissions trap heat in the atmosphere.

Fracking. High-pressure water fractures rock to release trapped gas.

A facility where crude oil is processed and refined. Industrial plant that separates crude oil into usable products.

$\text{Efficiency} = \frac{\text{Useful Energy Output}}{\text{Total Energy Input}} \times 100$. Measures how much input energy becomes useful output energy.

The point of maximum oil production rate. The theoretical point when oil production begins declining permanently.

Non-renewable and environmentally damaging. Finite supply and significant environmental pollution when used.

Coal, due to sulfur emissions. Sulfur dioxide from coal forms acidic precipitation.

Heating and cooking. Natural gas burns cleanly for thermal energy applications.

Coal, oil, and natural gas. These are the most commonly extracted and used fossil fuels.

Coal. Coal-fired power plants dominate global electricity production.

Octane (C₈H₁₈). An eight-carbon hydrocarbon that resists engine knocking.

Oil rig. Drilling platform used for petroleum extraction from wells.

The process is called carbonization. Heat and pressure gradually transform organic matter into carbon-rich fuels.

Methane emissions contribute to greenhouse effect. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas when released unburned.

Pipelines. Long-distance transport system for gaseous fuel distribution.

Stored chemical energy from ancient organic matter. Solar energy captured by plants millions of years ago.

Coal reserves. Coal that is accessible and profitable to extract.

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S). H₂S is a toxic gas produced during natural gas processing.

Oil is primarily used for transportation fuels. Refined into gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel for vehicles.

Distillation. Separates crude oil into different petroleum products by boiling point.

Lower carbon emissions. Natural gas burns cleaner with less carbon dioxide per unit energy.

Petroleum products like gasoline. Crude oil refining produces many useful hydrocarbon compounds.

Oil. Marine sediments and pressure create ideal oil formation conditions.