Name: NIWANNE, Chrysler Von T.

Date Submitted: April 20, 2021

BSCE CEM 2A ENG GEO 7:30-8:30 (MWF)

ASSIGNMENT No. 4- Module 3

Activity

Answer the following questions:

1. Explain why you shouldn’t taste minerals.

 Minerals is a solid chemical compound with a fairly well-defined chemical composition
and a specific crystal structure, that occurs naturally in pure form. Hence, minerals are
not safe to taste in a pure form such as sodium, potassium, manganese and others.
Unless, the minerals will undergo a process or made for food grade. For example, is the
CENTRUM, most of its ingredients are minerals containing some chemical composition
so that it is good for consumption.

2. How do Coal and Petroleum are formed, explain the process?

 In the formation of coal, there are two stages of this formation, biochemical degradation
and physicochemical degradation.
o Biochemical degradation involves chemical decomposition of botanical matter
assisted by organisms. This process may be faster in tropical conditions since
the warm moist conditions are ideal for the organisms that assist in this process
such as bacteria and fungi. In tropical conditions high rates of evaporation need
to be coupled with high precipitation to maintain plant growth and peat
accumulation. When the plant material or degraded plant material is buried below
the ground water table aerobic organisms and oxidation can no longer attack the
material. Biochemical coalification ends at the rank of sub-bituminous coal, when
humic substances have polymerized.
o Physico-chemical coalification which follows is caused by conditions of burial
(example: heat and pressure). When the overburden is deposited, the chemistry
and structure of the altered organic material will change because of heat flows in
the earth’s crust and tectonic heat and pressure. Water is squeezed out and pore
size is reduced as pressure increases and oxygen and hydrogen are released
during thermal cracking. Water and carbon dioxide are the first products
released. When rank reaches medium volatile bituminous coal demethanation
begins.
 In the formation of petroleum, there two stages of this formation, diageneses forms
Kerogen and Catagenesis (or “cracking”) turns kerogen into petroleum and natural gas.
o Diagenesis forms Kerogen. The process of compaction under mild conditions
of temperature and pressure called diagenesis. When organic aquatic sediments
(proteins, lipids, carbohydrates) are deposited, they are very saturated with water
and rich in minerals. Through chemical reaction, compaction, and microbial
action during burial, water is forced out and proteins and carbohydrates break
down to form new structures that comprise a waxy material known as “kerogen”
and a black tar like substance called “bitumen”. All of this occurs within the first
several hundred meters of burial. The bitumen comprises the heaviest
components of petroleum, but the kerogen will undergo further change to make
hydrocarbons and more bitumen.

o Catagenesis turns kerogen into petroleum and natural gas. As temperatures

and pressures increase (deeper burial) the process of catagenesis is catalyzed
by the minerals that are deposited and persist through marine diagenesis. The
conditions of catagenesis determine the product, such that higher temperature
and pressure lead to more complete “cracking” of the kerogen and progressively
lighter and smaller hydrocarbons. Petroleum formation, then, requires a specific
window of conditions; too hot and the product will favor natural gas but too cold
and the plankton will remain trapped as kerogen. This behavior is contrary
to what is associated with coal formation. In the case of terrestrial burial, the
organic sediment is dominated by cellulose and lignin and the fraction of minerals
is much smaller. The organic matter is condensed to form peat and, if enough
 geothermal energy and pressure is supplied, it will condense and undergo
catagenesis to form coal.
3. Can the Philippines attain a “Zero Carbon Emissions” in the future?
 Yes, if the government, private sector, and the whole nation will continue to adapt and
to live with the renewable energy (such as Solar (photovoltaic, solar thermal), Wind,
Biogas, Geothermal, Biomass, Low-impact hydroelectricity, Emerging technologies) at
their homes, business, and others. For example, the used of solar panels, the
replacement fossils energy with renewable energy-based energy for electricity
production, replacing of petroleum to solar-powered or converting fuel vehicles to hybrid
vehicles and etc. According to research, continuing used of renewable energy can
lessen the emission of carbon from the industrials, nuclear plants, vehicles, and many
more.