5.0 Summary

Keep Fossil Fuels in the Ground


What You Learned in Module 5

Having covered the material in this module, you should now be able to

  • Identify chemical characteristics of a fuel and describe how they make a fuel useful.
  • Describe combustion as an energy transfer process.
  • Compare and contrast the various forms of energy.
  • Draw and interpret energy diagrams for chemical reactions.
  • Distinguish between endothermic and exothermic processes.
  • Identify and compare units of energy.
  • Illustrate energy transfer in a coal-fired power plant, including points of inefficiency
  • Identify the chemical composition of coal
  • Describe the advantages and disadvantages of burning coal and oil-derived fuels
  • Describe how oil and natural gas are extracted from natural rock underground
  • Describe the role of distillation to refine fuels
  • Define hydrocarbons
  • Name and provide the chemical formulas of simple hydrocarbons
  • Characterize renewable and nonrenewable fuels
  • Compare and contrast biofuels with fossil fuels
  • Describe why biofuels are considered renewable
  • Evaluate the environmental, economic, and social impacts of both conventional fuels and biofuels.

Course and Student Learning Objectives in Module 5

  1. Explain how electricity is generated from combustion reactions and alternative sources, including solar and nuclear power.
  2. Make reliable observations and record these observations systematically.

Clicking "Next" will take you to the next module