CHAPTER

Sources of Energy

We already know that energy is the 'capacity of a body to do work!. In earlier classes,
we have learnt about different forms of energy: mechanical, heat, chemical, electrical,
light, sound, nuclear and so on. These are interconvertible; energy, however, cannot
be created or destroyed.
We need energy for all our activities, from baking chappatis or cookies, to sending
astronauts into space.
All forms of energy, that we use everyday, are stored in different ways in various
sources of energy.
We already know that the substances which produce heat on burning in air are called
fuels.

Classification of Sources of Energy

We classify the sources of energy on the basis of

Occurrence
1. Natural Sources: Natural energy sources are those which are made

109
 available to us by nature. Solar energy, wind energy, energy from wat
(hydro energy) are some of such natural sources of energy
ter

2. Synthetic Sources: Synthetic energy sources are those that use man-mad
de
materials as sources of energy. For example, chemical energy, stored in th
batteries, (used in calculators, watches, etc.) is a synthetic source of
enerqy
Physical State
1. Solid: Firewood, charcoal, coal are examples of solid fuels.
2. Liquid: Kerosene, petrol and diesel are all liquid fuels.
3. Gas:
Petroleum
natural
gas, commonly used as LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas), ang
gas, also used as CNG (Compressed Natural Gas), are examples of
gaseous fuels.

Availability
1. Renewable: A renewable source ofenergy is a natural resource that can
replenish itself naturally over a short period of time. Wind, sun, biomass
(from plants) and hydropower (from water) are all renewable sources of
energy. These are inexhaustible natural resources.
2. Non-renewable: Energy sources, which get used up and cannot
be replaced, or replenished, in a short period of time are called
non-renewable sources of energy. These are also called exhaustible
natural resources. Fossil fuels, (like petroleum, natural gas and coal), are
non-renewable sources of energy.

Do ouKnow?
A reasonable good estimate of the quality of a fuel can be attained through what is known as its
calorific value. The calorific value of a fuel is the amount of the heat obtained from it when a unit
mass of this fuel is completely burnt out under ideal conditions.
For example, the caloriñc value of coal is 30,000 kJ/kg and that of wood is 20,000 kJ/kg.
The above values indicate that coal is a better fuel than wood.

Fossil Fuels
As at present, most of our energy needs are met through non-renewable energy
sources; mainly fossil fuels (petroleum, natural gas and coal).

10
Fosil fuels are so called because they were formed, over a period of millions of years,
by the action of heat (from the earth's core) and pressure (from rocks and soil) on the
remains of dead plants and animals.

Let us study about them in some detail.

Wood as a Fuel
Wood is a major renewable natural resource. The combustion of wood is currently
the largest source of energy. Wood can be used for cooking and heating; it may
occasionally be used in steam engines and steam turbines (that generate electricity

Combustion of wood produces heat which Do You Know

can be put to a variety of uses. However, it
The excessive removal of wood from
also produces other gases, like CO, (carbon forests can cause habitat destruction
dioxide) and CO (carbon monoxide), which and soil erosion. Its combustion releases
undesirable, iritating more carbon dioxide than its bio-
are or dangerous.
degradation (roting).

Coal
Coal is a readily combustible black rock or a brownish black
sedimentary rock. Coal is one of the fuels that has been used
for cooking food. However, it produces a lot of smoke and
foul-smelling gases which cause air pollution.
Worldwide, coal (a fossil fuel) is the
largest source of energy
used for the generation of electricity. Anthracite coal

Occurrence of Coal
Coal is found deep under the surface of
Do lyou Know ?
the earth. The major coal mines in lndia Worldwide, coal is one of the largest
source of CO, emissions. Its use,
arelocated in Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh,
therefore, needs to be curtailed.
Odisha and West Bengal. The largest coal
mines are at Bokaro and Jharia (in Jharkhand) and
Raniganj (in West Bengal).
Formation of Coal
Coal was formed from plant remains got buried deep under the earth's crust.
 ver a large period of time, the chemical and physical properties of these pla.
remains were changed through geological actions that led to the creation. lant
o
of conversion of dead plant materials into co
this solid material. The process,
is called carbonisation.
Coa,

Types of Coal
Depending on the temperature and pressure conditions, and the time periodfo
which fossils remained buried under the surface of earth, different varieties of
coal have been formed.

Different types of coal are:

uAMAM
peat, lignite, bituminous and Burial pressure, heat and time
anthracite.

These different types of coal

differ from each other in terms
of their content of volatile Peat Lignite Bituminous
material and the percentage Sub-bituminous Anthrecit
of carbon, moisture and other
elements present in them.

Peat is soft brown substance that is made up of 30

a
per cent carbon. It is the
earliest stage during the formation of coal.

Lignite has a carbon content of about 38 per cent; it is regarded as the lowest
grade of coal. It has been used mainly for electric power generation.
Bituminous coal has about 65 per cent carbon; it is used for
and for making another type of fuel, called coke. power generation

Anthracite is hard coal and contains over 90 per cent carbon. It is

the highest grade of coal. regarded as

Destructive Distillation and lts Products

Strong heating of coal, in absence of air, is
called
obtain many products, like coke, coal tar and coal
destructive distillation. We
distillation of coal. gas, through the destructive

Coke: It is hard and porous

a
substance. Its main uses are listed
() It is used as a below.
It gives little
domestic as well as an
industrial fuel in stoves and furnaces
(or no) smoke.
 (i) It is
used for extraction of
metals.
(i)
(iii) It can be used to
make fuel gases (like
water gas (CO+
Coal Tar: It is a black coloured H,).
viscous liquid. It is used in the
)synthetic dyes (i) drugs (ii) explosives (iv) manufacture of
materials and (vii) roofing materials. perfumes paints (vi) photographic
(v)
Coal
Gas: It is an
inflammable gas. It is used as (i) domestic fuel, and (i)
industrial fuel (usually only for those industries which
a
an

processing units). are located near coal

Petroleum
Petroleum fossil fuel. It is a dark
is a
coloured, viscous and foul-smelling liquid,
commonly called crude oil. lt is found in rock formations in the earth. Its name is
derived from the Latin word petra (meaning 'rock') and oleum
it means rock oil. (meaning 'oil'); literally,

Occurrence of Petroleum
Petroleum is found at moderate depths
(500 m - 2,000 m) between two layers Impervious rock
of impervious rocks. Petroleum deposits
are usually found mixed with salt water. Natual gas
Petroleum, being lighter than salt water,
Petroleum
floats over it. Natural gas is found above
petroleum; it is trapped between the Saline Saline
water
rock cap and the petroleum layer. water

Refining of Petroleum
Petroleum is a mixture of various materials which are
separated from one another and are used for different
purposes. The process, of separating different components
of petroleum into their various useful forms, is called
refining of petroleum.

Petroleum Products and Their Uses

Due to its great commercial importance, petroleum has
give We below
often been called liquid gold or black gold.
the list of its main products, and the
main usels) of each ofAs.
A sample of crude
oil

them.
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 products:
into following
separated
further
R e s i d u a l Oil:
It is
1. black and
is a Do you Know
Asphalt: It used for
()
6i) solid. It is was opened at
sticky first oil refinery
roads and
coating the World's
making Ploiesti, Romania.
electric poles
u n d e r s i d e of

their rusting).
(to prevent
which is often
used as grease,
white semi-solid,
Parafin wax: It
is a and candles.
ointments
(i1) for making vaseline,
is also used machines.
for lubricating
oil: It is a viscous oil used
(i) Lubricating
fuel in boilers.
Fuel Oil: It is used
as a
2. vehicles (such as buses
run generators
and heavy
Diesel: It is used to
3.
tractors, etc.).
in lanterns.
domestic fuel as well as
Kerosene: It has been used as a
scooters and motor
Petrol: It is mainly used as a fuel in cars,
Gasoline, or refined petrol
5. cleaning' of clothes. Highly
cycles. It is also used
for 'dry
fuel in aeroplanes.
(aviation fuel) is used as a
under pressure and is then known as Liquified
6. Petroleum Gas: It is liquified
used as a domestic fuel.
Petroleum Gas (LPG). LPG is

Natural Gas
fossil fuel that
Natural gas is another
in oil
is found along with petroleum
wells. Natural gas, when compressed
is called
and stored under pressure,
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

discovered
In India, gas fields have been
in Godavari-Krishna basin,
Mumbai High Mumbai High
and Tripura.

Uses of Natural Gas

It burns readily and has a high calorific value. It is, therefore, used as a fuel in
homes and industries. It is also used as a better, and greener, automobile fue
and as a 'base ingredient' in the manufacture of fertilisers and chemicals.

14
 Cleaner Fuels
Fconomic development, and rapidly growing
environment, infrastructure and population, are putting a strain on the
different natural resources. Pollution, soil
deforestation, rapid industrialisation, urbanisation and land erosion
worsening the problem. Burning of fossil fuels, such as coal and degradation are al
is a major source of pollution. petroleum products
The present day strategy, to address
these environmental issues, is
to develop technology that uses
renewable natural resources (such
as biomass, water, wind and solar
energy). India is blessed with an
abundance of sunlight, water
and biomass. Fuels, like LPG, CNG
and biomass are cleaner and better fuels. When burnt, biomass and
LPG release
carbon dioxide but in relatively smaller amounts. When biomass
crops are grown,
a significant amount of carbon dioxide is
consumed through photosynthesis.
Natural gas is a cleaner fuel as it provides relatively low amounts of
has fewer emissions than coal and
pollutants. It
petroleum products; also, it leaves (virtually) no
ash particles after burning.

For our future and present day energy needs, we need to look for alternative
(cleaner)
sources, such as solar energy, tidal energy, geothermal energy, hydel energy and
wind energy. This will help to protect the environment and reduce the risk of
warming. Further fossil fuels are then more likely to be available for future generations.
global

Keywords
carbonisation it is the process of conversion of dead plant material into coal.

destructive it is the process of strong heating of coal in the absence of air.

distillation
matter buried deep
fossil fuels fuels formed, from dead plant and animal
of millions of years.
under the surface of earth, over period
a

113
 usea dp, CahhOt be
which, arter getting
non-renewable energy resource
time.
short period of
energy resource replaced in a

replaced naturally in short.

energyresource, which gets
a
renewable
energy resource of time.
period

You Must Know

1. Sources of energy can be classified on the basis of their occurrence, physical stat
tate
and availability.
2. Ene
Energy resources can be natural or synthetic; solid, liquid or gaseous;
or non-renewable.
renewable
3. Natural resources, like water, oxygen and plants, are renewable.
4. Coal and crude oil (or petroleum) are called fossil fuels and are non-renewable
natural resources.
5. Fossil fuels are formed from the remains of
plants and animals which have remained
buried deep under the surface of earth over a ofperiod millions of years.
6. Wood is a major renewable, natural resource.
7. Coal exists in four different
varieties which differs from each other in
content and amount of volatile material. carbon
8. Peat, the earliest stage of coal
formation, has 30 per cent carbon.
9 Lignite has 38 per cent carbon, bituminous has 65
coal has 90 per cent carbon. per cent carbon and anthracite
Anthracite is regarded as the
10. Coal is
highest grade coal.
processed to obtain coke, coal tar and coal gas.
11. Petroleum, on refining, separates into various
oil, diesel oil, kerosene, components like residual oil, fuel
gasoline and petroleum gas.
12. Natural
gas, that is stored under pressure, is called
It does not produce smoke and ash Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
and is therefore, considered a clean fuel.
13. Fuels, like LPG, CNG and biogas, are cleaner and better fuels
14. For energy needs, we must look for alternative sources, such as
solar tidal
energy,geothermal energy, wind energy, hydel energy, etc. This will energy, the
environment and reduce the risk of protect
global warming.

(116
 Something To Know

the blanks
A. Fill in

1. and are non-renewable sources of energy.

is a
major renewable, natural resource.

3. The process, in which coal is strongly heated in the absence of air, is known as

4. In oil wells, . is always found above the layer of petroleum.

5. is a black viscous liquid, obtained by destructive distillation of

coal.

State True or False for the following statements.

1. Fossil fuels are renewable natural resources.

2. Anthracite has higher carbon content than lignite.

3. Coke can be used to make fuel gases.

4.4. Natural gas is found below the petroleum layers.

5. Burning of fossil fuels is a major source of pollution.

Tick () the correct option.

1. The highest grade of coal is known as-

bituminous
lignite
anthracite peat

2. Coke and coal tar are obtained from-

coal
petroleum
diesel
natural gas
117)
 havethe
coal generally
3
3, Different types of percentage
of carbon
n
material and same
same content
of volatile ofcar
different percentage
material but
same content
of volatile
same percentage
of carh.
material but
different content of volatile
content of volatile
material as well ercent
as different pere
different
carbon.
of petroleum, is
not obtained through the refining
4. A product, that is
kerosene
diesel
petrol
coal gas
renewable source of energy?
5. Which of the following is a
coal
tidal energy
diesel petrol
D. Answer the following questions in brief.
1. Define the term fuel.
2. Name any two renewable natural sources of energy.
3 Define the term 'carbonisation.
4. Name the three main products obtained from destructive distillation of cE
5. State two uses each of the following:
(a) asphalt (b) parafin wax
6. Write the full forms of
CNG, LPG and PNG.
E. Answer the
following questions.
1.
Describe, in brief, the
process of "coal formation'.
2 Differentiate between
lignite and bituminous coal.
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 3 How do
petroleum and natural
gas occur in
4. State the main nature?
advantages of using natural
gas.
5. Keeping in mind their
petroleum judiciously. availability in nature, explain the need of using coal and
Value Based Question
The chemistry teacher,
explained to her
occuring fossil fuel, is separated students that when
into its different petroleum,
a
naturally
nents is useful in one way or the
too can be thought of as
other. She then components, each of these compo-
told her
'made students that our
daily life
suggested that 'all of us' should up' to a number of activities, actions and tasks. She
of
our daily life, are
try ensure and aim that all these
useful/helpful to the
society at large. 'components'
of
. State the values that
you think are contained in the teacher's talk
and
2. Name any three suggestions.
each of them.
components, obtained from petroleum, and state
any one use of
3. Have a
'group discussion' in whichdifferent students
making their different daily life actions and
suggest 'ways and means' of
activities, useful to the
society at large.
Something To Do
1. Make a
report on 'electricity
can help to reduce
the
consumption' in your house. Suggest some ways that
2. Unlike thermal
consumption.
carbon
power plants, which burn fossil fuels and emit
dioxide (a greenhouse large
amounts of
uranium (a metal) to
gas) into the
atmosphere, nuclear power plants use
of fuel.
produce huge amounts of energy from very small amount
However, they release harmful radiations that can
population. a pose
risk high to the
Do you think nuclear
energy can be an answer to the
of fossil fuels? problems caused by the use
Try to prepare a report, listing points that suggest that nuclear
power could be/could not be a better
way of generating electricity as compared to
fossil fuels.
Try to find out information about the
places/activities for which solar energy or
Wind energy is
being put to use in place of conventional fossil fuel based energy
sources.
119