At times, environmental conditions are such that plants and marine organisms
grow faster than decomposers can recycle them back to the environment.
Layers of energy-rich organic material have been gradually turned into
great coal beds and oil pools by the pressure of the overlying earth. By
burning these fossil fuels, people are passing most of the stored energy
back into the environment as heat and releasing large amounts of carbon
dioxide.
| NSES Content Standard B
Physical Science: Chemical reactions Grades 9-12, page 179 Chemical reactions may release or consume energy. Some reactions such as the burning of fossil fuels release large amounts of energy by losing heat and by emitting light. Light can initiate many chemical reactions such as photosynthesis and the evolution of urban smog. |