What Is the Relationship That Exists Between Chemical Energy & a Nonrenewable Resource?

by Chris Dinesen Rogers
    Fossil fuel emissions increased 10 percent from 1990 to 2009. (See Reference 5)


    Chemical energy drives most life processes on the planet. It involves the energy transformation of sunlight into plant food, as well as energy created in the cells of your body. Chemical energy is also a vital aspect of your everyday life in terms of its role with nonrenewable resources. About 70 percent of U.S. energy needs depend upon chemical energy and its relationship with coal, natural gas and petroleum. (See Reference 1)

    What Is Chemical Energy?

    Chemical energy is created as a result of a chemical reaction, resulting in either the release or consumption of energy. Several factors can contribute to this process, including the chemical reactivity or stability of substances, as well as heat or other external conditions. A chemical reaction that gives off heat is an exothermic reaction, whereas one that absorbs heat is called an endothermic reaction. This property helps explain how chemical energy and nonrenewable resources are connected. (See Reference 2)

    Coal and Energy Generation

    The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that coal was the source of 45 percent of the nation's net electricity generation in 2010. The process involves releasing the chemical energy in coal to produce heat in steam turbines, which in turn generate electrical power. The two most common types of coal perform somewhat differently; bituminous is most abundant variety, but anthracite is a cleaner burning fuel with a higher heat energy content. Burning either type of coal yields several harmful waste products, including carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and mercury. (See Reference 3)

    Fossil Fuel Combustion

    Petroleum-powered vehicles provide another example of chemical energy and a nonrenewable resource. During fuel combustion, hydrocarbon methane reacts with oxygen to create energy, with carbon dioxide and water as byproducts. (See Reference 4) The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimated that 42 percent of total energy-related carbon dioxide emissions stem from petroleum use. (See Reference 3) These facts show that the bond between chemical energy and nonrenewable resources has both benefits and risks.

    Environmental Risks

    The transformation of chemical energy into electrical energy carries grave environmental risks. Fossil fuel combustion is the single greatest source of human-caused carbon dioxide emissions, a major contributor to climate change. The negative effect of utilizing the chemical energy in fossil fuels varies by source. For example, coal-fired power plants produce about 45 percent more carbon dioxide per unit of energy content than power plants using natural gas. While the products of chemical energy and nonrenewable resources provide benefits, they come at a high environmental cost. (See Reference 5)

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