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Understanding how we obtain and use energy is a key part of the AQA GCSE Chemistry specification. This lesson compares different energy resources — fossil fuels, hydrogen, batteries, and fuel cells — in terms of their energy output, environmental impact, sustainability, and practicality. You will learn to evaluate these resources and make informed judgements.
Energy resources can be broadly divided into non-renewable and renewable categories:
| Category | Examples | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Non-renewable | Coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear | Finite supply — will eventually run out |
| Renewable | Wind, solar, hydroelectric, tidal, geothermal, biomass | Continuously replenished — will not run out |
In GCSE Chemistry, the focus is on how chemical reactions provide energy, so we concentrate on fossil fuels, hydrogen, and electrochemical cells (batteries and fuel cells).
Fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) are formed from the remains of ancient organisms over millions of years. They are burned (combustion) to release energy.
When fossil fuels undergo complete combustion in excess oxygen:
hydrocarbon + oxygen --> carbon dioxide + water
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