Research - Uses of Hydrocarbons

For three different hydrocarbons (coal, oil and natural gas) record:
 scientific description (structure, carbon chains)
 brief outline of how it is extracted from the Earth
 brief outline of its uses
Complete a PMI for the environmental, economic, and sociocultural implications of obtaining and
using hydrocarbons from the Earth.
Coal – Coal is created when dead plant matter is covered in sediment in swamp environments, then heat and
pressure is applied and over hundreds of millions of years coal is formed. Coal is divided into four classes:
anthracite, bituminous, sub-bituminous, and lignite. Bituminous coal is C137H97O9NS and C240H90O4NS for
high-grade anthracite. Coal can be extracted from the earth either by surface mining or underground mining.
Once coal has been extracted, it can be used directly (for heating and industrial processes) or to fuel power
plants for electricity. If coal is less than 61 meters (200 feet) underground, it can be extracted through
surface mining. Coal is used for electricity generation, metal production, cement production, chemical
production, gasification, and liquefaction
Oil – Oil is a fossil fuel that has been formed from a large amount tiny plants and animals such as algae and
zooplankton. These organisms fall to the bottom of the sea once they die and over time, get trapped under multiple
layers of sand and mud. The carbon chain of oil is C8H18. It is extracted from underground reservoirs using traditional
drilling and pumping methods. We use petroleum products to propel vehicles, to heat buildings, and to
produce electricity. In the industrial sector, the petrochemical industry uses petroleum as a raw material (a
feedstock) to make products such as plastics, polyurethane, solvents, and hundreds of other intermediate and
end-user goods.
Natural Gas – Natural gas is a product of decomposed organic matter, typically from ancient marine
microorganisms, deposited over the past 550 million years. This organic material mixed with mud, silt, and
sand on the sea floor, gradually becoming buried over time. Natural gas is mainly composed of methane and
propane. Natural gas is extracted by drilling vertically from the Earth's surface. Hydraulic fracturing,
horizontal drilling, and acidizing are processes to expand the amount of gas that a well can access, and thus
increase its productivity. Natural gas can be used to produce electricity in a variety of ways. Quite often, it
can be used just like other fossil fuels, providing a cleaner alternative. Hot gases created from
burning natural gas turn the unit's turbine, which generates electricity.
Plus Minus Interesting facts
- Can be cheap process for - Release of carbon dioxide, - There is common mistakes
power which restricts radiation of between the plastic
- Used for power and energy heat away from the earth identification code symbols
generated when burned - Potential for incomplete and recycling symbol
- Is considered a reliable combustion causing the - Polymers are the building
process release of carbon monoxide blocks for plastic, it is in all
- Used for fuel for - Soot carbon released acts as a plastics
automobiles, used for respiratory irritant
heating, cooking and gas - Sulfur dioxide released which
- Used for polymers which is is respiratory irritant and
used to make plastic, resin, makes acid rain which
coatings like Teflon and damages limestone buildings
fibres like nylon and rayon - Potential oil spills damage the
- Great use in the chemical environment and kills
industry wildlife (spills like
Deepwater horizon)
- Shrinkage of glaciers
- Later formation of ice and
earlier breaking up
- Artic sea ice has been
consistently reducing
- Sea levels rising
- Increased ocean acidification
which destroys coral reefs