Coal is a combustible black sedimentary rock composed mostly of carbon and hydrocarbons. The energy in coal comes from the energy stored by plants that lived hundreds of millions of years ago, when the Earth was partly covered with swampy forests. The heat and pressure from the top layers helped the plant remains turn into what we today call coal. Coal is a nonrenewable energy source because it takes millions of years to create.
Formation of coal
Coal is used for generating electricity and in a variety of industries (steel, concrete, paper).
The combustion of coal produces several types of emissions that adversely affect the environment.
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REFERENCES:
1) http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=coal_home-basics
2) Image Source: National Energy Education Development Project (Public Domain)
