Coal
Why is coal important?
Coal is used because it is abundant and inexpensive. It is American made. Coal is used primarily in the United States to generate electricity.
What is coal used for?
Different types of coal have different uses. Steam coal, also known as thermal coal, is mainly used in power generation. Factories use coal to make iron and steel. Coal has lots of energy in it. When it is burned, coal makes heat and light energy. The cave men used coal for heating, and later for cooking. Burning coal was easier because coal burned longer than wood and did not have to be collected as often. Today, we burn coal mainly to make electricity.
Coal is used because it is abundant and inexpensive. It is American made. Coal is used primarily in the United States to generate electricity.
What is coal used for?
Different types of coal have different uses. Steam coal, also known as thermal coal, is mainly used in power generation. Factories use coal to make iron and steel. Coal has lots of energy in it. When it is burned, coal makes heat and light energy. The cave men used coal for heating, and later for cooking. Burning coal was easier because coal burned longer than wood and did not have to be collected as often. Today, we burn coal mainly to make electricity.
Where is coal found?
Coal is found in under ground mines. It has no fixed chemical formula. It contains various amount of these five elements: carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and sodium. Every piece of coal started as a plant. After the plant died it turned into peat. Other minerals accumulated on top of the peat and the increasing pressure over time transformed it into sedimentary rock. Coal beds form in parallel to the earth's surface. The deeper the bed, the harder the coal. Large areas of coal are called coal reserves.
Coal is found in under ground mines. It has no fixed chemical formula. It contains various amount of these five elements: carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and sodium. Every piece of coal started as a plant. After the plant died it turned into peat. Other minerals accumulated on top of the peat and the increasing pressure over time transformed it into sedimentary rock. Coal beds form in parallel to the earth's surface. The deeper the bed, the harder the coal. Large areas of coal are called coal reserves.
How can coal be used responsibly?
Bottom ash, the heavier particles that remain after coal is burned, is like fine sand and gravel. Bottom ash can be used in concrete blocks, shingles, asphalt, and bricks. The natural materials, sand and fine gravel can be saved for other uses.
Bottom ash, the heavier particles that remain after coal is burned, is like fine sand and gravel. Bottom ash can be used in concrete blocks, shingles, asphalt, and bricks. The natural materials, sand and fine gravel can be saved for other uses.