The Downside to Every Upside

      In an amazing achievement, the China has found a way to supply for its immense energy demands by using coal-powered synthetic natural gas plants. With private companies deciding to build their own synthetic natural gas plants, China's demand for natural gas is easily met. Though of course since this method has any benefit, this means it also has negative side effects. The amount of greenhouse gas this coal-powered synthetic natural gas plants is seven times greater than the amount of greenhouse gas orthodox plants produce. The new method of producing natural gas also requires 100 times the amount of water used in the production of shale gas. These statistics were acquired by a study conducted by Duke University in which a member of the research group ends China entirely shuts down this alternative program of gas production as it has immense potential for damaging the environment. This is further described in the article: http://www.chemistrytimes.com/research/Chinas_synthetic_gas_plants_would_be_greenhouse_giants.asp.

      By having producing a larger amount of greenhouses gases, more heat would be trapped in the atmosphere according to the theory of global warming. This heat would then cause irregular, extreme weather conditions. Some experts credit  global warming for producing super storms, like Hurricane Sandy. Another environmental issue is the use of water. The amount of fresh water on Earth is currently around 2%, and most of this fresh water cannot even be used since it is frozen in the polar ice caps. Though this may sound like simply a matter of biology, this topic also involves chemistry. For with more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, heat is trapped causing the particles to move in greater concentrations explaining the sporadic weather conditions. Also, the reactions used in plants to generate natural gas and energy is a process explained using chemistry. Thus it become the task for all nations to use chemistry in a way to generate industry without yielding a product that will harm the environment. It's fascinating how two different areas of science, biology and chemistry, are both involved in this topic.