Advantages and Disadvantages of Coal

What is Coal?

Coal is a nonrenewable hard black rock-like substance which is burned to heat houses and produce electricity and was once used to power trains and boats. It is made up of: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and varying amounts of sulfur.

Where is it found?

What are the advantages

Easily combustible; able to catch fire and burn easily Widely and easily distributed all over the world; Comparatively inexpensive due to large reserves and

easy accessibility Good availability Inexpensive Very large amounts of electricity can be generated in

one place using coal, fairly cheaply. A fossil-fuelled power station can be built almost

anywhere, so long as you can get large quantities of fuel to it. Most coal fired power stations have dedicated rail links to supply the coal.

What are the Disadvantages?

it is Nonrenewable and fast depleting; Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide, a powerful greenhouse

gas, that had been stored in the earth for millions of years, contributing to global warming.

It leaves behind harmful byproducts upon combustion, thereby causing a lot of pollution;

Mining and burning of coal pollutes the environment, causes acid rain and ruins all living creature's lungs.

It will eventually run out. It cannot be recycled. Prices for all fossil fuels are rising, especially

if the real cost of their carbon is included. A 500-megawatt coal- fired plant draws about 2.2 billion gallons of

water from nearby bodies of water. This is enough water to support approximately 250,000 people.