Fossil fuels like petroleum, natural gas, and coal are taken from deep within the earth, and used to drive cars, heat buildings, and generate electricity. Petroleum can also be used to make petroleum-based chemicals petrochemicals , which are found in many everyday things like the soles of your shoes or the plastic cover of your school bus seat. The good thing about fossil fuels is that they are very energy dense, i. This means that fossil fuels are very good at powering cars and generating heat.
The not-so-good thing about fossil fuels is that the earth has a limited amount of them. Because fossil fuels take millions of years to form, we will eventually use them up before more are made. Additionally, burning fossil fuels or petrochemicals releases the gas carbon dioxide CO 2. Burning fossil fuels raises CO 2 concentrations in the atmosphere, and this can lead to climate disruptions including global warming 1.
Because of these problems, scientists and engineers are working hard to find new kinds of fuels and chemicals that do not add CO 2 to the atmosphere, and that can be renewed when supplies run low.
Biofuel is one type of fuel that shows a lot of promise for our energy future, because it is both renewable and environmentally friendly. In other words, biofuel is sustainable. Biofuels are usually produced from plant materials that cannot be eaten by humans, such as corn stalks, grasses, and wood chips. Biomass is another name for the plant materials that are used to make biofuels. When biomass is harvested and processed, scientists can break down and convert the plant cells into renewable fuels or chemicals.
So, instead of waiting a million years for nature to change plants into fossil fuels, scientists are trying to speed up this process by using clever chemistry to make biofuel from plants that are alive today. Now, wait a second. If burning fossil fuels, which are made from ancient organic matter, pumps CO 2 into the atmosphere … does not burning biofuels create the same problem? Fortunately, the answer is no. Burning biofuel does indeed release CO 2 , but remember that the plants used in biofuel are not ancient — they were living on the earth at the same time as you and me.
And while we, as humans, breathe oxygen to stay alive, plants instead breathe CO 2. This means that because the plants used for biofuel consume CO 2 as they grow, there is no total increase in the amount of CO 2 in the atmosphere when they are burned. They are only replacing what they have taken. In addition, unlike petroleum, we can always grow new plants for biofuel when we need them.
So, if biofuels are sustainable and environmentally friendly, then they must be the perfect solution to our energy problems, right? Energy and the environment. Also in What is energy? Forms of energy Sources of energy Laws of energy. Also in Units and calculators explained Units and calculators Energy conversion calculators British thermal units Btu Degree days. Also in U. Also in Use of energy explained Use of energy Energy use in industry Energy use for transportation Energy use in homes Energy use in commercial buildings Energy efficiency and conservation.
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Nonrenewable sources. Oil and petroleum products. Diesel fuel. Heating oil. Also in Oil and petroleum products explained Oil and petroleum products Refining crude oil Where our oil comes from Imports and exports Offshore oil and gas Use of oil Prices and outlook Oil and the environment.
Also in Gasoline explained Gasoline Octane in depth Where our gasoline comes from Use of gasoline Prices and outlook Factors affecting gasoline prices Regional price differences Price fluctuations History of gasoline Gasoline and the environment. Also in Diesel fuel explained Diesel fuel Where our diesel comes from Use of diesel Prices and outlook Factors affecting diesel prices Diesel fuel surcharges Diesel and the environment. Also in Heating oil explained Heating oil Where our heating oil comes from Use of heating oil Prices and outlook Factors affecting heating oil prices.
Hydrocarbon Gas Liquids. Natural gas. Also in Hydrocarbon gas liquids explained Hydrocarbon gas liquids Where do hydrocarbon gas liquids come from? Share what you learn with a friend or family member.
Up for a challenge? Help an adult friend or family member calculate the gas mileage of their vehicle. You'll need to help them fill it up and make a note of the mileage.
When they need gas again, help them fill up their vehicle and make a note of the new mileage, as well as how many gallons it takes to fill up their vehicle. Once you have those figures, divide the number of miles traveled since the last fill-up by the number of gallons it took to fill the tank. Your answer will be the vehicle's gas mileage in miles per gallon.
Have fun doing some fancy calculating! Did you get it? Test your knowledge. Wonder Words crude oil fuel chain tank fossil gasoline refinery station organic carbon asphalt petroleum sediment hydrocarbon kerosene lubricating distillation Take the Wonder Word Challenge.
Join the Discussion. Jan 28, We're glad you learned something new, cash! Randy Douglas Dec 7, Being a tank driver and licensed to haul and deliver oil based products I must say that I'm impressed. Secondly, nowhere in the article is it mentioned that gas eats diesel because of it's flash point.
Most gas stations wont care though, they just want the business in the buying of the product. Dj Mar 28, Mar 28, We're glad, Dj!
What was the most important thing you think you learned about gasoline? Jan 16, WonderCool Nov 13, Feliciana Feb 8, Hey, I was wondering what role do the hydrocarbons in the crude oil play in the gasoline.
What does it do for the gasoline and help it get an engine working? Great article btw really easy to understand. Dec 9, Hey, Randy! Thank you for providing your expertise in this area. Feb 26, Jan 29, Hi, tiffany! We're glad you stopped by! Adrian Apr 4, Apr 5, That's awesome, Adrian!
I thought that this wonder was very interesting too. The chains from C7H16 through C11H24 are blended together and used for gasoline. All of them vaporize at temperatures below the boiling point of water. That's why if you spill gasoline on the ground it evaporates very quickly. Next is kerosene , in the C12 to C15 range, followed by diesel fuel and heavier fuel oils like heating oil for houses.
Next come the lubricating oils. These oils no longer vaporize in any way at normal temperatures. For example, engine oil can run all day at degrees F degrees C without vaporizing at all. Oils go from very light like 3-in-1 oil through various thicknesses of motor oil through very thick gear oils and then semi-solid greases. Vasoline falls in there as well.
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