BICOL COLLEGE

College of Teacher Education

Subject: Environmental Science

Units: 3 units
Placement: First Year; 1st Semester 2022 – 2023
Module: II

Chapter 2: Matter and Energy

Learning Outcomes:

1. Define matter and energy

2. Identify the different sources of energy
3. Initiate acts that would help conserve enery

Matter and Energy

Matter is the material that makes up things in the Universe, as they say matter is anything that occupies
space and has mass. Matter on the earth is composed of elements which is approximately 115 different types.

Atom is the smallest particle that exhibits the unique chemical characteristics of an element. Atoms are
composed of smaller parts known as protons, neutrons, and electrons. A proton is a subatomic particle that has
positive electrical charge while neutron has no electrical charge and electron has a negative electrical charge.

Protons and neutrons make up the nucleus of an atom making the nucleus the most massive part of an
atom. Electrons, on the other hand, are found orbiting outside the nucleus on their energy level.

States of Matter

The following are the characteristics states of matter:

1. SOLID
* Has a difinite shape (rigid)
* Definite volume
* Particles vibrate around fixed positions
2. LIQUID
* No definite shape (takes the shape of its container)
* Has definite volume
* Particles are free to move over each other, but are still attracted to each other
3. GAS
* No definite shape (takes the shape of its container)
* No definite volume
* Particles move in random motion with little or no attraction to each other
* Highly compressible
4. PLASMA
* No definite shape
* No definite volume
* Known as the fourth-state of matter
* Not an ordinary gas because it can generate electricity
Classification of Matter
1. Mixture is composed of different substances and the proportions that make up the mixture vary
likewise they can be separated by physical method. Mixtures are classified as homogeneous or
heterogeneous. Homogenous to the naked eye have indistinguishable parts while heterogeneous have
distinguishable parts.
2. Pure Substances have constant composition and can only be separated by chemical reactions. Elements
and compounds are pure substance. Elements are substances that cannot be decomposed into simpler
substances by chemnical or physical means while compounds are substances with constant composition
that can be broker down ito elements by chemical processes.

Pure substances, however, can be broken down in the process of chemical changes. Chemical changes
involve a change incolor, change in temperature, change in odor, which make the substance form other chemical
value. Mixtures on the other of the substance, but not its chemical composition.
Methods of Separating Mixtures

1. Distillation is a process of separating a mixture by differences in boiling point.

2. Filtration is a process of separating a solid and a liquid.
3. Chromatography is a method of separation that requires 2 phases, stationary phase and a mobile phase

Properties of Matter

Property is the characteristics that give each substance its unique identity.
1. Physical property is tangible property that shows what the substance on matter is, without
changing into or interacting with another substance (color melting point, conductivity, density).
2. Chemical properties are those that will happen to a substance as it change into or interacts with
another substance (or substances) (example: flammability, corrosiveness, and reactivity with
acids).

Physical and Chemical Change

There are two types of changes in matter.

1. Physical Change occurs when a substance change its physical form, not its composition.
2. Chemical Change (chemical reaction) occurs when a substance (or substances) is altered into
different substance ( or substances).
Energy

Engergy is defined as the capacity for doing work. Energy and matter are associated with each in
different aspects and in larger nature.

Types of Energy

There are two basic forms of energy: kinetic energy and potential energy. Kinetic energy is the energy
due to motion of an object like a rock falling from a cliff, a man running, wind blowing leaves of trees, and water
flowing over a dam are all examples of kinetic energy. Potential energy, on the other hand, is a stored energy by
an object that can be transformed into another form of energy. Water stored behind a dam, the food that we eat
contains chemical energy, and the gasoline of cars are all examples of potential energy.

Energy: Scientific Principles

The Three Laws of Thermodynamics

The following are the fundamental principles of Thermodynamic system:

1. The first law of thermodynamics, also called conservation of energy, states that the total amount
of energy in the universe is constant. This means that all of the energy in the universe are
neither created nor destroyed; they are just transformed from one form to another.
2. The second law of thermodynamics states that the disorder in the universe always increases.
This means that energy that is transformed to another form is degraded. This degradation is
due to the waste energy that was being used relative to the transformation, this waste energy is
the heat released on the process of transformation.
3. The third las of thermodynamics states that all molecular movement stops at a termperature we
call absolute zero, or 0 Kelvin (-273oC).

Energy Resources

Conventional Energy Resources

Conventional sources of energy are non-renewable sources of energy, which are being used since the time
being. The use of this form of energy has been in massive volumes for the past years that their known reserves
have been decreased to a great extent, that it is becoming increasingly difficult to discover and exploit their new
deposits.

Coal

Coal is a combustible black or brownish black sedimentary rock ussually occurring in rock strata in
layers called coal beds or coal seams. It is composed primarily of carbon along with variable quantities of other
elements, chiefly hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen. It is one of the most important sources of energy. Coal
is used in heating, in steam engines and also in generation of electricity.

Four Stages of Coal Formation

Peat – Stage One

Peat is the first stage in the formation of coal. In this stage, vegetable matter is oxidized to water
and carbon dioxide, however, if plant material accumulates underwater, oxygen is not present and so only partial
of an organic substance called peat.

Peat is a fibrous, soft, spongy substance in which plant remains are easily recognizable as it contains
large amount of water and before using it water should be dried first. Peat burns with a long flame and
considerable smoke.

Lignite – Stage Two

Lignite is formed when peat is subjected to increased vertical pressure from accumulating sediments. It
is dark brown in colour and, like peat, contains traces of plants. It is found in many places but is used only when
more efficient fuel is not available. It crumbles easily and should not be shipped or handles before use.

Bituminous Coal – Stage Three

By the added pressure lignite become more compact and virtually all traces of plant life have
disappeared producing Bituminous. Bituminous is also known as “”soft coal”. It is greatly used in industry as a
source of heat energy.

Anthracite – Stage Four

Anthracite, is also known as “hand coal” since it is hard and has a high lustre. It appears to have been
formed as a result of combined pressure and high temperature. Anthracite burns with a short flame and little
smoke.

Crude Oil

Crude oil I a liquid found naturally in rock, containing mostly complex hydrocarbons, with some
additional organic material. It is one of the major fuels use today, and is used in the production of many
synthetic materials. Crude oit differs in weight and color, and in composition.

There are four main hydrocarbons found in crude oil, in varying amounts depending on the oil. These
include naphthenes, paraffins, aromatics, and the rest are asphaltic. The color can vary from pure black or dark
brown to greenish or yellowish, which depends on the composition of the oil. A crude oil that is light is
characterized by the level of hydrocarbons relative to organics and metals embedded on; it's light when these
materials are high and considered heavy when these materials are low.

On the other end, a crude oil is sweet when it has very little sulfur, and sour if it has an immense deal of
sulfur. Thus, crude oil is usually classified as something sweet, light, sour, and heavy.

Sweeter oils as they suggest are more valuable than sour oils, because most countries have sulfur
regulations for environmental reasons, and sweet oils require less treatment to remove the sulfur. Light oils are
more valuable than heavy oils, because more gasoline can be created from a smaller amount.

Natural Gas

Natural Gas is a highly combustible colorless and odourless hydrocarbon composed mainly of methane.
In pressurized deposits located deep in the Earth's crust, this gas is produced. The same manner as oil, natural
gas is also produced by geologic processes that act upon organic matter over millions of years and its high
combustibility with low emissions makes it a highly important resource.

Migcoorganisms called methnogens can also produce natural gas by breaking down organic matter.
Methanogens is found in the interstines of humans and many animals, also these microorganisms are found near
the surface of the Earth, especially in anaerobic parts.

Electricity
The are various sources from which electricity is being produced. Depending upon raw material used,
there are several ways in producing electricity.
Production and Distribution of Electricity

Generation
By turning of turbines, electricity is being produced or generated. Depending on the way it is being
prooduced, however commonly, pressurized steams are the ones where the force of flowing water is the one
turning the turbines.

Transmission
The transmission of electricity is done through transmission lines passing through two types of
transformer. Step up transformer is used to significantly increase the voltage of the running electricity while
step down transformer is used to lessen the voltage as this is the electricity being distributed at homes.

Distribution
Electric distribution is done with substation that serves different consumers; the electricity being
distributed is removed from the trnasmission system and passed through step-down transformers that lower the
voltage. The electricity is then transferred on local electric stations and distribution lines and delivered to
houses. The electricity's voltage is lowered again by a distribution transformer and passed through electric
meter in houses.

Alternative Energy Resources

Alternative energy resources are those that have no undesired consequences compared to other energy
resources. These resources of energy are renewable and are thought to be free. They also have lower carbon
emissions. Alternative energy resources include Biomass, Wind Energy, Solar Energy, Geothermal Energy and
Hydroelectric Energy.

Biomass Energy
Biomass is a term generally pertaining for all plant and animal material. A number of different forms of
biomass can be burned or digested to produce energy. Biomass is a very versatile material and can be used to
produce heat thus producing alternative source of energy.

Chemical composition
Biomass is carbon based and is composed of a mixture of organic molecules containing hydrogen,
usually including atoms of oxygen, often nitrogen and also small quantities of other atoms, including alkali,
alkaline earth and heavy metals. Biofuels are fuels derived from biomass.

Methods for Converting Biomass to Energy

Burning – direct burning of biomass is the most common method of producing the energy stored on it.
The direct combustion of biomass will produce heat, and can be used to directly influence the temperature of a
small environment or to power steam-driven turbines to produce electricity. Burning biomass, however, can
result to a great deal of air pollution because it adds up to the greenhouse gas already existing in the Earth's
atmosphere, thereby resulting to global warming.

Alcohol Fermentation

Starch in this process found in organic matter is converted to sugar by heating or burning and then it
will be fermented by yeast. The result is ethanol, (also known as ethyl alcohol or grain alcohol) is then distilled
and blended with another fuel. The end product is known as “Gasohol,” and is used successfully in different
countries.

Anaerobic Digestion

In this process, anaerobic digestion will convert biomass into methane – (methane is a major component
of natural gas) and carbon dioxide. The biomass is mixed with water and stored in tank which is airtight.
Practically this process is one of the most attractive for human, animal, and agricultural are turned into gas that
is readily used as an energy source.

Pyrolysis – involves the heating of biomass such as wood and other agricultural waste in the absence of oxygen in
a very high temperature ranging to almost 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. One of the major advantages of pyrolysis is
that carbon dioxide is not produced. A disadvantage, on the other hand, is that pyrolysis requires significant
amount of energy thus, ample amount of energy is also wasted.
Wind Energy - means the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy. This is possible by using wind
turbines to make electrical power, windmills for mechanical power, and wind pumps.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Wind Enery

Advantages

*Wind energy is friendly to the surrounding environment, because no fossil fuels are burnt to generate
electricity.
*Wind trubines take up less space than the average power station.
*Newer technologies are making the extraction of wind energy much more efficient.
*Wind turbines are a great resource to generate energy in remote locations, such as mountain
communities and remote countryside.
*When combined with solar electricity, this energy source is great for developed and developing
countries to provide a steady, reliable supply of electricity.

Disadvantages

*Winds unreliability factor for winds strength is too low in some areas and don't have the capability to
support a wind turbine or wind farm.
*It produces a lot less electricity than the average fossil fuelled power station, requiring multiple wind
turbines to be built in order to make an impact.
*Construction can be very expensive and costly to surrounding wildlife during the build process.
*The noise pollution it produces since the noise it produces can be compared to small jet engine.

Solar Energy – is the conversion of sunlight into usable energy. Solar energy can be a source of energy to
produce electricity to homes, businesses, schools and other similar places. The power of sunlight can be
harnessed by collecting and converting it into electricity. This is done by using solar panels (photovoltaic cells),
which are large flat panels are made up of many individual solar cells, these cells have been invented to absorb
sunlight and convert it into electricity.

Advantages
*Sunlight is free
*The harnessing of this enery source has no danger of pollution/
*The technology is harnessing this energy is cost effective.
*Most systems have a life span of 30 to 40 years likewise; most system carry a full warranty for 20 to 30
years or more.

Disadvantages
*The Solar Cells and Solar Panels that are needed to harness solar energy tend to be very expensive.
*Solar power cannot be harnessed during a storm, on a cloudy day or at night, thus limiting the power
that can be saved for future use.
*Solar panels require quite a large area for installation to achieve a good level of efficiency.
*The efficiency of the system also relies on the location of the sun.
*The production of solar enery is influenced by the presence of clouds or pollution in the air.
*Lastly, solar energy is not produced during night time.

Hydroelectric Power – is the process of changing the kinetic energy of flowing water in a river into electrical
power that can be used by end users.

It aworks when a dam is built in big naturally occurring river or lake. The dam functions as a reservoir
of water thereby holding the water and creating pressure so that water can produce more electrical power.
Gravitational potential energy is stored in the water, that when it flows it helps the turbine rotate thus powering
the generator to create or produce electricity. These turbines are within the tunnels in the dam. The water in the
dam has immense pressure due to its great height, and the greater the volume of water where it flows out then
one can get more power out of the water as it has greater potential energy.

The generator contains two main parts; the rotator and the stator.

The rotator is the part which rotates and the stator is the part which is covered in copper. The electrical
current is created when the rotator spins around the copper wire on the stator.
World Distribution of Hydropower

Hydropower is the most important and widely-used renewable source of energy and represents about
19% of total electricity production in the world. China is the largest producer of hydroelectricity, followed by
Canada, Brazil, and the United States. Lastly, about two-thirds of the economically feasible potential remains to
be developed like those in the Latin America, Central Africa, India and still other parts of China.

Advantages of hydroelectric power

* Minimal amount of pollution is produced.

• Free by nature, since the mechanism to produce energy is flowing water.
• Hydropower plays a major role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Low operations and maintenance costs.
• The technology is reliable and proven over time.
• The energy source is renewable as long as there is rain and running water.
Disadvantages to hydroelectric power

• Hydropower has high investment costs.

• Hydropower is dependent on the amount of precipitation.
• Inundation of land and wildlife habitat.
• Loss or modification of fish habitat.
• Fish entrainment or passage restriction.
• Changes in reservoir and stream water quality.
• Displacement of local populations.

Geothermal energy is harnessed from the heat coming beneath the Earth. This energy provides a clean
and renewable aresource. The unlimited heat coming from the centre of Earth's interior makes this energy
source renewable. The heat continuously flowing from the Earth's interior, which travels primarily by
conduction, is estimated to be equivalent to 42 million megawatts (MW) of power, and is expected to remain for
billions of years to come, ensuring an inexhaustible supply of energy (Geothermal Energy Association, 2013-05-
13).

According to the Geothermal Energy Association, geothermal system requirews heat, permeability, and
water. This heat from the Earth's core according to them will continuously flow outward until it reaches the
Earth's surface as lava, but usually remains below thereby heating nearby rock and water reaching a
temperature that might range up to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This water is then heated to become hot water that
will produce steam that collects underground because they are trapped in permeable and porous rocks
producing geothermal reservoir, as manifested by hot springs and geysers. A geothermal reservoir is the
collection of hot water underground or beneath the surface of the earth.

Geothermal Energy Association cited Four Commercial Types of Geothermal Power Plants:

a. Flash Power Plant

This plant function is to separate heated water that is under pressure in a surface vessel called steam
separator, it will separate the steam from the heated water. The steam then turns the turbine, hence powering
the gerator that eventually produces electricity.

b. Dry Steam Power Plant

Steam is produced directly from the geothermal reservoir to run the turbines that power the generator,
and no separation is necessary because wells only produce steam.

c. Binary Power Plant

This power plant makes it possible to reduce geothermal energy's already low emission rate to zero. It
uses Organic Rankine Cycle system. The geothermal water heats another liquid, such as isobutane or other
organic fluids such as pentafluoropropane, which boils at a lower temperature than water. The two liquids are
kept completely separated through the use of a heat exchanger, which transfers the heat energy from the
geothermal water to the working fluid. The secondary fluid expands into gaseous vapour. The force of the
expanding vapour, like steam, turns the turbines that power the generators.

d. Flash/Binary Combined Cycle

 This one uses a combination of flash and binary technology that the portion of the geothermal water
which “flashes” to steam under reduced pressure is first converted to electricity with a backpressure steam
turbine and the low-pressure steam exiting the backpressure turbine is condensed in a binary system.
Advantage to Geothermal Energy

• Low running cost. It saves about 80% of the fossil fuel cost.
• No fuel needed to generate power.
• It's renewable; because the mechanism to produce energy comes naturally from the earth.
• It's not a big risk to the environment since this energy source is renewable, it does not somehow
harm the environment in the process.

Disadvantages to Geothermal Energy

• High initial installation cost.

• Viable areas for construction are only few since area where geothermal plants are built must have a
good heat source.

Energy Conservation

The following are the tips for reducing energy consumption:

20 Tips to Save Energy by Cebu Daily News

1. Always turn off the lights when leaving a room.

2. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs. They use less electricity and last up to 10 times longer than
incandescent bulbs.
3. Make sure that bulbs, fixtures, lenses, lamps and reflective surfaces are cleaned regularly. By removing
the grease, dust and other dirt, you can increase the output of your lights.
4. Refrigerator accounts for 11% of a household's total energy consumption. Today's energy-efficient
refrigerators use 50% less energy than old models.
5. Organize food on refrigerator shelves to allow ample airflow and efficient operation.
6. Chest freezers are more energy ifficient than upright models. Cold air stays in better when the door is
opened.
7. A room air conditiioner filter should be cleaned once per quarter. A dirty air filter reduces airflow and
may even damage the unit.
8. A poorly performing air conditioner should be serviced without delay. A leaking refrigerant not only
reduces the unit's efficiency, it also emits greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.
9. Using a microwave over instead of a conventional over can save 50% of cooking energy costs.
Microwave ovens cook food faster than conventional ovens.
10. Oven toaster uses much less energy than a conventional oven. It is also faster and more convenient for
cooking small quantities of food.
11. Iron clothes in bulk once a week.
12. Give your car a break. Combine trips whenever possible. Use mass transit, walk or bike whenever
possible. Leaving your car at home just two days a week will save 1,590 pounds of greenhouse gas
emissions each year.
13. Always maintain your car to maximize its fuel efficiency, safety and reliability.
14. Refrain from charging cellular phones when the battery is not yet fully empty.
This does not only save energy, it also prevents damage on your cellular phones.
15. Unplug any battery chargers or power adapters when not in use.
16. Activate sleep features on computers, copiers and other machines that power down when the equipment
is on but not in use for a while. Turn off equipment during long periods of non-use to cut energy costs.
17. Use lap top computers since they use up to 90% less energy than laser printers.
18. Consider using ink-jet printers which also use 90% less energy than a standard computer.
19. Choose a flat-panel computer monitor rather than a regular cathode ray tube (CRT)monitor. Some flat-
panel liquid display monitors use considerably less electricity than comparably-sized CRT models.
Prices for LCD monitors have been dropping. Buy the smallest monitor. The bigger the monitor, the
more energy it uses. A 17-inch monitor consumes 35% more electricity than a 14-inch monitor.
20. Implement paper-reducing trategies, such as double-sided printing, re-using paper and using 3-mail
instead of sending memos or faxing documents to save energy and conserve other resources.