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Re:Nuclear turn green as EU parliament approves new taxonomy by adolph on Thursday July 07, 2022 @10:06AM (#32014278)
> Gas emits so little CO2 compared to coal

At a molecular level this doesn't make sense to me. The fundamental carbon cycle value proposition is to harvest energy released when a carbon atom (re)joins two oxygens. For the same energy, how would methane and coal produce different amounts of CO2?

That said, I can see how the oxygen reaction would be less efficient and create more byproducts (i.e. acid rain) using coal given its less refined nature. How methane would have a better energy to CO2 ratio doesn't seem to have an obvious mechanism.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methane

Imagination, Physics, Fire & Trees - Richard Feynman (aka Trees grow from air, carbon cycle): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJLMysTpwhg

Re:Nuclear turn green as EU parliament approves new taxonomy by bloak on Thursday July 07, 2022 @11:10AM (#32015093)
Coal: C + O2 -> CO2

Gas: CH4 + 2O2 -> CO2 + 2H2O

I don't know off hand exactly how many joules of energy (heat) are produced per mole in each case but it's not surprising that gas gives more joules per mole of CO2: it's a bit like you're burning hydrogen at the same time.

EDIT: It's relevant that O-H bonds are stronger than C-H bonds, presumably.

Re:Nuclear turn green as EU parliament approves new taxonomy by 988747 on Thursday July 07, 2022 @12:36PM (#32016174)
You also need to consider that H2O itself is also a greenhouse gas, much worse than CO2, although much easier to remove from atmosphere.
Re:Nuclear turn green as EU parliament approves new taxonomy by nix23 on Friday July 08, 2022 @05:45AM (#32024915)
>H2O

Water...

Re:Nuclear turn green as EU parliament approves new taxonomy by adolph on Thursday July 07, 2022 @11:50AM (#32015578)
Thanks, that makes some sense. I wonder how that additional bond works in the hydrolox to methalox comparison of rocket fuels.
Re:Nuclear turn green as EU parliament approves new taxonomy by pfdietz on Friday July 08, 2022 @06:45AM (#32025368)
Coal is more like CH on average.