| Readily combustible sedimentary rock that is black or | | | | It is the largest source of energy for electricity |
| brownish-black in color; coal is found in rock strata | | | | generation throughout the world; |
| and in form of layers that are called coal beds. Harder | | | | It is also one of the largest anthropogenic |
| forms of the rock such as the anthracite coal are | | | | sources of emission of carbon dioxide; |
| regarded as metamorphic rock due to exposure to | | | | Carbon die oxide emissions from coal is higher |
| elevated levels of temperature as well as pressures. | | | | than emissions in petroleum; |
| Composition of Coal | | | | Coal is mined from underground or open crust |
| Coal is usually made of the following components - | | | | pits. |
| Carbon; | | | | Use of Coal for Electricity Generation |
| Sulfur; | | | | Primarily used as solid fuel for production of electricity |
| Oxygen; | | | | as well as heat through the process of combustion, |
| Nitrogen; and | | | | consumption of coal was around 7,280,000,000 by |
| Hydrogen. | | | | 2010. China is the largest producer of coal followed |
| Evolution of Coal | | | | by India. Maximum usage of coal was in United |
| Beginning as layers of plant matter that accumulates | | | | States for electricity generation where 90% of the |
| at the bottom of water, remaining protected from | | | | coal produced or imported was used for the purpose. |
| biodegradation as well as oxidization, they continue to | | | | Pulverization and Combustion of Coal |
| form into coal. One of the locations providing ideal | | | | For generation of electricity and heat, coal is |
| climate for such carboniferous periods is the wide | | | | pulverized and combusted either in a furnace or with |
| shallow seas. Deeply buried sediments ground in | | | | a boiler. Furnace heat converts boiler water into |
| immense peat bogs those were covered over and | | | | steam that is used to spin turbines turning generators |
| deeply buried and metamorphosed into coal. With | | | | creating electricity. Over the years the thermo |
| passage of time, the chemical as well as the physical | | | | dynamic efficiency of the process has increased a lot. |
| properties of the plant remains are changed to form | | | | While scientists are trying to find out divergent |
| the solid material. This solid material is coal. | | | | alternative sources for power, till date coal continues |
| Features of Coal | | | | to be the major source of energy on the planet |
| Coal is one type of fossil fuel; | | | | earth. |