Fossil Fuels

FOSSIL FUEL

Introduction

Coal , fuel oil and natural gas which are found underground are the hydrocarbons that are referred to as fossil fuels . The term fossil fuel is rooted in the fact that the three natural underground energy sources were formed over very long periods from the remains of animals and plants . Although the term `fossil fuels ‘ also includes other hydrocarbons originating from natural resources that are not the remains of animals or plants , this type of energy sources is called mineral fuels

Indeed , the utilization of fossil fuels has [banner_entry_middle]

enabled large-scale industrial development and largely supplanted water-driven mills , as well as the combustion of wood or peat for heat (Wikipedia Encyclopeadia , 2006 ) However , like many of other utilization matter fossil fuels have their undesirable effects that have to be addressed seriously in that the problems are combated

The main concern for scientists and other authorities dealing with problems of pollution is the air pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels and the impact on the environment and the health of people

In this the air pollution caused by burning fossil fuels will be studied under of the following headings

Chemistry of Combustion

Air Pollution Caused by Fossil Fuel Combustion

Measures Taken to Combat the Air Pollution

Conclusions

A . Chemistry of Combustion

Combustion is a chemical reaction between a fuel (e .g . fossil fuel ) and an oxidant (e .g . atmospheric oxygen . This chemical reaction normally results in producing heat and light . However it is important to point out that not every oxidation process produces heat . For example , corrosion is an oxidation process but it does not produce heat . The chemical oxidation process in burning fossil fuels occurs at a rate fast enough to produce heat . This type of oxidation is what we refer to as combustion . That is why the term combustion is applied to exothermic processes

The chemical process of a complete combustion is detailed in the following quote from Wikipedia Online Encyclopaedia

In a complete combustion reaction , a compound reacts with an oxidizing element , and the products are compounds of each element in the fuel with the oxidizing element . For example :A simpler example can be seen in the combustion of HYPERLINK “http /en .wikipedia .org /wiki /Hydrogen ” \o “Hydrogen ” hydrogen and HYPERLINK “http /en .wikipedia .org /wiki /Oxygen ” \o “Oxygen ” oxygen which is a commonly used reaction in rocket engines The result is simply water vapour

However , in real world uses of combustion it is not always a complete combustion . For fossil fuels to burn the combustion takes place as a result of the ambient air oxygen (O2 combining with the fossil fuel in the presence of a spark Then the resulting fuel gas will contain nitrogen . That is to say that nitrogen is the largest part of the resultant fuel gas when combustion uses the ambient air oxygen In reality , combustion processes are never perfect or complete . In flue gases from combustion of HYPERLINK “http /en .wikipedia .org /wiki /Carbon ” \o “Carbon ” carbon… [banner_entry_footer]