Peatification and coalification

What is coal?

Coal is a sedimentary rock with a black or brownish-black color. It is found in underground deposits called coal beds or coal seams. Coal is primarily composed of carbon and hydrocarbons along with varying amounts of other elements, chiefly hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen.

Due to it’s chemical makeup, coal is highly combustible.

As a result, coal is used around the globe as an energy source to fuel electricity generation. The burning of coal produces significant pollutants and greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

How is coal formed?

Coal is formed from the remains of plants that lived millions of years ago.

How is coal formed short answer

It starts with the plants absorbing energy from the sun through a process called photosynthesis. Over time, when these plants die, their remains get buried under layers of soil and other debris.

Over millions of years, the plants are transformed into coal through a series of biological, chemical, and physical changes.

Factors influencing the formation of coal include:

• Quality and quantity of the original organic material
• Time
how does coal form step by step
how is coal formed short answer