Question

What are the consequence of burning hydrocarbons for energy?

Answer 1

You tell us, you are the ones who are going to inherit this Earth.....

Explanation:

Combustion of hydrocarbons, uses fixed carbon, i.e. carbon modified by photosynthesis to give (eventually) long-chain hydrocarbons, and combusts it with dioxygen to give gaseous carbon as carbon dioxide.

i.e. `C_6H_14(l) +19/2O_2(g) rarr6CO_2(g) + 7H_2O(l)+Delta`

Now, you know that carbon dioxide is potent greenhouse gas, that can store energy from the sun much more effectively than can linear diatomic molecules such as dioxygen or dinitrogen. The result? Atmospheric temperatures should increase, and there is a consensus of scientific opinion that global atmospheric temperature has substantially risen over the course of the past 250 years, coinciding with the widespread use of fossil fuels. The evidence? Polar melting; ocean acidification; rising average temperatures according to most analyses.

Anyway, I am off to give my motor a thrash.