Energy Sources and Production

About 80 percent of commercial energy is obtained from three kinds of fuel oil, coal, and natural gas. These fuels burn in air with the release of energy. They are called fossil fuels because they are believed to have formed from the remains of plants and animals subject to heat and pressure for millions of years. 

Natural gas is a mixture of methane (CH4), 60 to 90 percent, and smaller amounts of other gaseous hydrocarbons, including ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8), and butane (C4H10). It is valued because it burns hotter and produces less air pollution than other fossil fuels. Complete combustion of a hydrocarbon substance produces carbon dioxide and water. 

Industrial Revolution widespread replacement of hand tools by power-driven machines, beginning about 1750 (especially in England) 

In2001,2.39 trillion cubic meters of natural gas were consumed worldwide, with estimated remaining reserves of 150 trillion cubic meters. 

Oil (also referred to as petroleum) is a complex liquid mixture of organic substances, principally of hydrocarbons containing five to sixteen carbon atoms. Most crude oil, once removed from a well, is sent by pipeline to a refinery, where it is distilled to separate it into gasoline, heating oil, diesel oil, and asphalt. The use of catalysts during the refining process increases the yield of gasoline. In 2001, 25.7 billion barrels of oil were used worldwide, with estimated reserves of 1.05 trillion barrels. (One barrel contains 159 liters.) 

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Fuels See Coal Energy Sources and Production Fire, Fuels, Powerplants Gasoline Petroleum. 

Alkaline Earth Metals Molybdenum Energy Sources and Production... 

P. Svoboda (ed.) Zdroje a vyroba elektricke energie (Sources and production of electric energy), special issue of Ceskoslovensky casopis pro fyziku" (Czech Journal of Physics) A2 (2002), Vol. 52 (in Czech)... 

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