is it true?..."the energy realeased in burning organic fuels was originally solar energy"?

Answer 1

Its a Bio-Fuel
(If you go roundabout way finding logical source most of them may lead to solar energy - but technically not true.)

Answer 2

Yes. Here's how the cycle works:

Plans use photo synthesis to absorb solar energy through their leaves (I'll skip the chemistry involved). That energy is then used for a variety of organic processes. The key one is that plants use the energy to break down carbon dioxide they take in from the atmosphere. They then combine the carbon obtained with hydrogen and other materials they get from the soiil they grow in to "build" compounds that make up the structure of the plant--most importantly for what you are talking about--the wod that makes up tree trunks, stems, branchees,e tc.

When wood is burned, ithe carbon is recombined with oxygen from the air . This releases the energy that the plant originally put into seperating out the carbon in the first place--producing heat, light--and recreating the CO2 the plant originally removed from the atmosphere.

The same fundamental process is at the base of burning any organic compound--including oil or coal--which, millions of years ago, started as prehistoric plants.

Answer 3

I assume when you mean solar energy, you mean energy originating from the sun and not energy produced from solar panels.

Except for some organisims living around volcanic vents on the bottom of some oceans, all living material can trace its origin to solar energy.

Light from the sun is used by plants in the process of photosynthesis. Plants for the most part are at the bottom of the food chain and therefore all animals above plants on the food chain rely on them directly or indirectly for food. Therefore all living things rely on solar energy to survive.

Since organic fuels are merely decayed plant or animal matter, then yes the energy release was once solar energy.

Answer 4

True. Photosynthesis turns solar energy into chemical energy as sugars, starches and fiber. All complex hydrocarbons. That energy is passed on to animals in the food they eat.

It does not matter if the sugars are converted into alcohol or biofuel, a calorie is a calorie is a calorie.

Answer 5

ythe way i understand it is that organic fuel is made from plants and is said to be "solar energy" because the plants need sunlight to grow and reproduve

Answer 6

Yeah, but that doesn't make it a good idea given that a lot of biofuels don't burn very cleanly (and they also require far too much land to grow which we should be using to feed people).