Fuel Types & Uses (College Board AP® Environmental Science): Flashcards
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What is the most common source of energy for people in developing countries?
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What is the most common source of energy for people in developing countries?
Fuelwood is the most common source of energy for people living in developing countries.
Charcoal is made by burning wood in low- conditions for an extended time.
Charcoal is made by burning wood in low-oxygen conditions for an extended time.
Which environmental problems does fuelwood use contribute to?
Fuelwood use contributes to deforestation, soil erosion, and desertification, because wood is cut faster than it is replanted and regrows.
True or False?
Burning fuelwood indoors poses little risk to human health.
False.
Burning fuelwood causes indoor pollution, and exposure to the smoke leads to health issues.
Define peat.
Peat is a soil-like, brown, partially decomposed organic material that can be cut, dried, and burned for fuel.
Under what conditions does peat form?
Peat forms under waterlogged and acidic conditions, where dead plant matter accumulates and becomes compacted under its own weight.
True or False?
Because peat is not strictly a fossil fuel, the IPCC does not classify it as one.
False.
The IPCC classifies peat as a solid fossil fuel because its greenhouse gas emissions are similar to those of other fossil fuels.
Which gas is released when frozen peatlands in northern latitudes thaw?
Thawing frozen peatlands release methane gas into the atmosphere.
Define coalification.
Coalification is the process in which buried plant matter in peat becomes harder, denser, drier, and carbon-enriched, transforming into coal.
In order of increasing rank, coal forms from peat → lignite → → anthracite.
In order of increasing rank, coal forms from peat → lignite → bituminous → anthracite.
Which three factors determine the rank of coal?
The rank of coal depends on heat, pressure, and time; the higher these are, the better the quality of the coal.
Which type of coal is the lowest grade?
Lignite (brown coal) is the lowest-grade coal, with a low carbon concentration, high moisture content, and low heating value.
True or False?
Anthracite is used mostly for generating electricity.
False.
Anthracite, the highest-ranking hard coal, is used mostly for residential and commercial space heating.
Why is natural gas considered the cleanest fossil fuel?
When burned, natural gas releases far less sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter than coal or oil.
True or False?
Burning natural gas produces no carbon dioxide.
False.
Burning natural gas still produces carbon dioxide (CO₂), but less per unit of energy than coal or oil.
How is shale gas accessed?
Shale gas, stored in the small pores of sedimentary rock, is accessed through fracking.
Define crude oil.
Crude oil is a hydrocarbon fossil fuel formed over millions of years from dead and decomposed organic material under heat and pressure.
Define tar sands.
Tar sands are a combination of clay, sand, water, and bitumen from which crude oil can be recovered.
Oil shale is a fine-grained sedimentary rock high in organic compounds called .
Oil shale is a fine-grained sedimentary rock high in organic compounds called kerogen.
Define synfuel.
Synfuel is a synthetic liquid fuel produced from the chemical conversion of coal, natural gas, or biomass, such as ethanol from corn.
Which chemical process produces syngas from coal?
Syngas is produced from coal by coal gasification, giving a gas lower in particulates, mercury, and sulfur dioxide when burned.
True or False?
Specialized fuels made from coal, such as syngas, produce no greenhouse gas emissions.
False.
The product is still a carbon-based fuel, so it produces greenhouse emissions and is also more expensive.
Define cogeneration.
Cogeneration, or combined heat and power (CHP), is a single power plant that creates both electricity and usable heat.
Why is cogeneration more efficient than traditional power plants?
Cogeneration captures and uses waste heat instead of generating electricity and heat separately, which saves energy and cuts greenhouse gas emissions.
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