Why are most non-renewable energy resources burned?

Question

Violet Adams · Accepted Answer

It is the process of breaking the hydrocarbons into carbon-dioxide and water-vapour, that releases energy. That is why most non-renewable energy sources are burnt.

Hydrocarbons #C_NH_{2(N+1)}# represent a state of high electrostatic potential energy. In nature it is observed that almost all system tend to proceed toward a state of lower potential energy. High potential energy states are thus inherently unstable and systems would reconstitute themselves releasing the energy if they can settle in a new state of lower potential energy. The majority of non-renewable energy sources come from fossilized organic matter. Underneath the surface of the Earth, at temperatures between 100 and 150 degrees Celsius, organic matter (kerogen) gradually undergoes thermal decomposition over geological time periods, a process known as catagenesis, leading to lighter hydrocarbons like methane. The process of breaking down hydrocarbons into carbon dioxide and water vapor (burning) releases energy, so in order to extract energy from hydrocarbons, we must burn them. Methane is composed of four hydrogen atoms bound to a carbon. These bonds have electrostatic potential energy associated with them. If oxygen molecules are present, they offer an opportunity for the hydrogen-carbon-oxygen atoms to reconfigure themselves to go to a state of lower potential energy. However, this can only occur if there is some initial driving energy, which is provided by a fire or spark.

Leo Arens · Answer

undefined Most non-renewable energy resources are burned because burning them releases energy in the form of heat, which can then be used to generate electricity or power various processes. Burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas is a common method to harness their energy for human use.