How does the energy source coal work?

Answer 1

By Combustion.

Coal is a black, shiny, carbonaceous rock.

When heated from an outside source (Activation Energy), it will remain hot (releasing heat energy) until all the carbon in coal has been used up.

It is very similar to Crude Oil , in that it contains many other chemicals, which are released during combustion. Being carbonaceous it releases carbon dioxide on combustion. It also releases ammonia, sulphur dioxide amongst other chemicals/.

Crude oil is refined in order to capture all the fractions and chemicals contained therein.

Similarly, coal is baked in coke ovens, where it releases tar, ammonia, sulphur dioxide. etc.,

In both cases these released chemicals are captured and used industrially.

Answer 2

The energy in coal is chemical energy. The usual way to extract it is to burn the coal converting it to heat energy. This can then be turned into electrical energy

Fuels like gasoline and coal are sources of energy which means they store energy

Answer 3

Coal is a fossil fuel formed from organic matter that has been compressed and heated over millions of years. When burned, coal releases stored energy in the form of heat, which is used to generate electricity in power plants. The heat produced by burning coal is used to boil water and produce steam, which drives turbines connected to generators that produce electricity.