Coal and Petroleum

Resources

We use different materials like Coal and Petroleum every day. Some are natural, and some are made by humans.

This chapter Coal and Petroleum, focuses on the different types of natural resources, their uses, extraction processes, and the importance of conserving limited resources like fossil fuels.

Natural vs. Man-Made Materials

• Natural Resources: Found in nature (e.g., air, water, soil, minerals).
• Man-Made Resources: Created by humans (e.g., plastic, glass, paper).

Types of Natural Resources

1. Inexhaustible Natural Resources:
   • Unlimited and cannot be exhausted by human activities.
   • Examples: Sunlight, air.
2. Exhaustible Natural Resources:
   • Limited in amount and can be exhausted by human activities.
   • Examples: Forests, wildlife, minerals, coal, petroleum, natural gas.

Fossil Fuels

• Examples: Coal, petroleum, natural gas.
• Formation: From dead remains of living organisms (fossils).

In this chapter, we’ll learn about the importance of conserving exhaustible natural resources to ensure they are available for future generations.

1.1 Coal

Coal is a hard, black stone-like material. It’s used as a fuel for various purposes.

Uses of Coal

• Cooking food
• Running steam engines (historically)
• Producing electricity in thermal power plants
• Fuel in various industries

Story of Coal

• Formation:
  • 300 million years ago, dense forests existed in low-lying wetlands.
  • These forests got buried under soil due to natural processes like flooding.
  • Over time, the buried forests were compressed with rising temperatures.
  • Under high pressure and temperature, dead plants slowly turned into coal, This process called carbonisation.
  • Coal is a fossil fuel since it formed from vegetation remains.

Products from Coal

• Coke:
  • Tough, porous, black substance, almost pure carbon.
  • Used in steel manufacturing and metal extraction.
• Coal Tar:
  • Black, thick liquid with an unpleasant smell.
  • Mixture of about 200 substances.
  • Used to make products like synthetic dyes, drugs, explosives, perfumes, plastics, paints, photographic materials, roofing materials.
  • Naphthalene balls, used to repel moths and insects, are also made from coal tar.
  • Bitumen, a petroleum product, is now used instead of coal tar for road construction.
• Coal Gas:
  • Obtained during coke production.
  • Used as fuel in industries near coal processing plants.

Coal and its products play an important role in various industries and daily life.

1.2 Petroleum

Petroleum is a natural resource used to produce fuels like petrol and diesel.

Uses of Petrol and Diesel

• Petrol: Used in light vehicles like motorcycles, scooters, and cars.
• Diesel: Used in heavy vehicles like trucks and tractors.

Formation of Petroleum

• Formed from sea organisms.
• Dead organisms settled at the sea bottom.
• Later covered with layers of sand and clay.
• Over millions of years, high pressure and temperature transformed them into petroleum and natural gas.

Extraction of Petroleum

• Mined from between rocks under the Earth.
• Petroleum and natural gas deposits are found above water because they are lighter and do not mix with water.

Interesting Facts

• First Oil Well: Drilled in Pennsylvania, USA, in 1859.
• India’s Oil: First struck in 1867 at Makum, Assam.
• Oil Locations in India: Assam, Gujarat, Mumbai High, Godavari and Krishna river basins.

Refining of Petroleum

• Petroleum is a dark, oily liquid with an unpleasant smell.
• Contains various constituents like petroleum gas, petrol, diesel, lubricating oil, paraffin wax.
• Refining: The process of separating these constituents, done in a petroleum refinery.

Products from Petroleum

• Petrochemicals: Used to make detergents, fibers (polyester, nylon, acrylic), polythene, and other plastics.
• Hydrogen Gas: Obtained from natural gas, used to produce fertilizers (urea).

Importance

• Due to its commercial value, petroleum is called “black gold.”

Petroleum and its products are essential for various applications in daily life and industry.

S.No.	Constituents of Petroleum	Uses
1.	Petroleum Gas in Liquid form	Fuel for home and industry (LPG)
2.	Petrol	Motor fuel, aviation fuel, solvent for dry cleaning
3.	Kerosene	Fuel for stoves, lamps, and jet aircraft
4.	Diesel	Fuel for heavy motor vehicles, electric generators
5.	Lubricating oil	Lubrication
6.	Paraffin wax	Ointments, candles, vaseline, etc.
7.	Bitumen	Paints, road surfacing

1.3 Natural Gas

Natural gas is an important fossil fuel that’s easy to transport through pipes.

Uses of Natural Gas

• Compressed Natural Gas (CNG): Stored under high pressure.
  • Used for power generation.
  • Fuel for transport vehicles (less polluting and cleaner).
  • Directly used for burning in homes and factories.
• Chemical and Fertilizer Production: Starting material for manufacturing various chemicals and fertilizers.

Natural Gas in India

• Reserves Found In: Tripura, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Krishna Godavari delta.
• Pipeline Networks: Exist in places like Vadodara (Gujarat), parts of Delhi.

1.4 Limited Natural Resources

Some natural resources, like fossil fuels, forests, and minerals, are exhaustible.

Fossil Fuels

• Formation: Took millions of years from dead organisms.
• Depletion: Known reserves may last only a few hundred years.
• Environmental Impact: Major cause of air pollution and linked to global warming.

Conservation of Fossil Fuels

To conserve fossil fuels and reduce pollution:

• Use fuels only when necessary.
• Drive Smartly:
  • Maintain a constant and moderate speed.
  • Switch off the engine at traffic lights or when waiting.
  • Ensure correct tyre pressure.
  • Regularly maintain your vehicle.

Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA)

• Provides tips(Drive smartly) on saving petrol and diesel.

By following these tips, we can ensure a better environment, reduce global warming risks, and extend the availability of these resources.

Chapter Summary:

• Coal, petroleum, and natural gas are fossil fuels.
• Fossil fuels were formed from the dead remains of living organisms millions of years ago.
• Fossil fuels are exhaustible resources.
• Coke, coal tar, and coal gas are the products of coal.
• Petroleum gas, petrol, diesel, kerosene, paraffin wax, and lubricating oil are obtained by refining petroleum.
• Coal and petroleum resources are limited. We should use them judiciously.

KEYWORDS

1. COAL
2. COAL GAS
3. COAL TAR
4. COKE
5. FOSSIL FUEL
6. NATURAL GAS
7. PETROLEUM
8. PETROLEUM REFINERY