Energy From Organic Fuels The Need for Energy

Do Now: What do the following words have in common? Electricity Light Sound Nuclear Solar Chemical Mechanical Heat

Where does the fuel for these devices acquire their energy?

Energy from Fuel fuel – any substance from which energy can be obtained Energy cannot be created or destroyed. The storage, transfer, and conversion of energy supports all life on Earth. What fuels you? Where does the energy in that fuel come from?

Organic Fuels What is an organic fuel? - contain carbon and once part of living organisms. Hydrocarbon – a compound composed only of carbon and hydrogen. The chain of carbons can be straight, branched or in a ring. Examples: methane - CH4, ethane - C2H6, octane and iso-octane - C8H18

Other Chemicals In Organic Fuels Sulfur or lead compounds can be found in fuels and are considered impurities. Impurities can improve the fuel’s ability to provide energy… But they also contribute to pollution when fuels are burned.

Fossil Fuels Ancient organisms died and became buried within the Earth. Some energy remained stored in their cells. Millions of years later that energy is used today as fossil fuels. Fossil fuels – one category of organic fuel derived from the remains of organisms that lived long ago. Examples: coal, petroleum, and natural gas