Chapter 5 Coal and Petroleum Notes

  • Natural resources : Different things obtained from nature
  • Natural resources are of two types: Inexhaustible natural resources and exhaustible natural resources
  • Inexhaustible natural resources: Resources present in abundant in nature and will not exhaust due to human activities.
  • Exhaustible natural resources: Resources are available in limited quantity and can exhaust in near future due to human activities.
  • Difference between exhaustible and inexhaustible resources:
    Inexhaustible natural resources Exhaustible natural resources
    Available in abundant and will not exhaust due to human activities Available in limited quantity and will exhaust in near future due to human activities
    These can be obtained again and again even after continuous use These cannot be obtained again once vanished
    For example: Sunlight, air, water, etc For example: Coal, petroleum, forests, minerals, etc
  • Coal : Hard – stone like substance used for fuel
  • Types of coal
    • Lignite: 60 – 70% carbon
    • Bituminous: 70 – 80% carbon
    • Anthracite: 90 – 95% carbon
  • Uses of coal
    • Coke is used as household fuel, in manufacturing of steel and metal extraction, etc.
    • Coal tar is used for making synthetic dyes, plastics, paints, synthetic fibres, pesticides, naphthalene balls, roofing materials, explosives, perfumes etc.
    • Coal gas used as industrial and household fuel.
  • Petroleum (petra – rock, oleum – oil, crude oil): A natural resource from which petrol and diesel is obtained.
  • Refining of petroleum: Process of separating different components of petroleum. The method used for separating the components is called fractional distillation.
  • Formation of coal and petroleum
    Formation of Coal Formation of Petroleum
    • Forest got buried below the earth’s surface to due to various natural calamities
    • Due to deposition of soil for years, compression increased
    • Hot conditions and high pressures, anaerobic bacteria decompose them and removed hydrogen and oxygen leaving behind carbon
    • Due to high pressure, carbon forms stony mass known as coal
    • This process is called as carbonisation
    • Dead organisms in the sea settles at the bottom
    • Over a period of time, layers of sands gets deposited
    • In absence of air, under high temperatures and pressures these dead plants and animal gets converted into petroleum and natural gas
    • Petroleum being lighter floats on water and remains compressed by natural gas in a dome shaped impervious rock called rock cap
  • Uses of natural gas
    • Used as fuel in automobiles and power generation.
    • Used for domestic and industrial purposes.
    • Heating natural gas strongly produces hydrogen and carbon which is further used in manufacturing of other processes.
  • Limitations of natural resources
    • Natural Resources are exhaustible
    • Natural Resources cause Environmental Pollution
  • Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) Guidelines
    • Drive at a constant and moderate speed as far as possible,
    • Switch off the engine at traffic lights or at a place where you have to wait,
    • Ensure correct tyre pressure
    • Ensure regular maintenance of the vehicle.