Jesse
Forum Elite
Posts: 1592
Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 10:27 pm
[QUOTE BY= Rabblewatch]<br />
Where does coal come from?[/QUOTE]<br />
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I kind of assumed you could find this for yourself, but apparently you are unable to use a search engine.<br />
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[QUOTE]<br />
Coal, a fossil fuel, is derived from prehistoric plants that once grew in swamp ecosystems where the degradation occurred under an anaerobic environment in which the low oxygen levels prevented any oxidation to carbon dioxide. It is a complex mixture of carbon, metal compounds and several other compounds such as hydrocarbons, organic sulphur compounds, hydrogen sulphide, ammonia, water, and complex molecules such as tars, which are released – some being burnt - during combustion of the coal. Its composition varies widely according to location. <br />
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[QUOTE]<br />
A black or brownish black solid, combustible substance formed by the partial decomposition of vegetable matter without access to air. The rank of coal, which includes anthracite, bituminous coal, subbituminous coal, and lignite, is based on fixed carbon, volatile matter, and heating value. Coal rank indicates the progressive alteration, or coalification, from lignite to anthracite. See anthracite, bituminous coal, subbituminous coal, lignite.<br />
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So, coal is formed in much the same manner as crude oil. And, surprise! certain chemical reactions can occur in coal beds involving the coal and water to produce methane gas, exactly as Dr Caleb said. <br />
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Join us next week when I describe to you how plants can actually "create" oxygen out of nothing but rabblewatch's hot air, and as I perform more google searches that he is too lazy to do himself.