coal
all about coal
What is coal
Google definition- a combustible black or dark brown rock consisting mainly of carbonized plant matter, found mainly in underground deposits and widely used as fuel
Illinois Coal Association- coal is a black or brown rock that can be ignited and burned to produce energy in the form of heat.
coals chemical makeup is a complex mix of elements that include sulfur, carbon, oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen, as well as small quantities of aluminum, zirconium and many other minerals
Why do we need to use coal
Coal is used for electricity- coal fired powered stations generate 40% of global electricity. heat from burning coal boils water, and steam spins a propeller. a machine turns this into electricity.
Iron and Steel- About 70% of steel is created using coke, a high- carbon fuel made from coal. It is burning to melt and remove impurities from iron or during iron and steel production.
Concrete- Concrete is a building material made with cement. coal is burned to make heat for cement production. Waste ash from coal fired power stations can be replace cement in concrete.
Plant Fertilizer- coal can be turned into ammonia fertilizer by breaking it into carbon monoxide and hydrogen gas. The hydrogen mixes with nitrogen to make ammonia.
Shampoo- the dandruff and head lice- zapping power of some shampoos is thanks to coal tar, a thick dark colored liquid produced when coal is turned into coke or gas fuel.
- how it works magazine
An outline of the process for extracting coal
- kids world ( kids.rrc.state.tx.us )