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Geochemistry

Chemistry In Pictures

Chemistry in Pictures: Pore strip

by Alexandra Taylor
September 11, 2019
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Most Popular in Physical Chemistry

 

Credit: Mark Goodman

Coal contains pores that can serve as a refuge for adsorbed methane. If the gas escapes during mining, it can cause explosions, so safety measures such as ventilation are key. This thin section of coal, shown at 100× magnification, demonstrates the material’s porosity. Mark Goodman, a retired Merck analytical chemist, received the coal along with several other rock samples from a geologist friend. He mounted the coal sample on a slide with epoxy and sanded it down until it was thin enough to allow light to shine through.

Submitted by Mark Goodman

Do science. Take pictures. Win money. Enter our photo contest here.

Related C&EN Content:

Polyester made from coal? China is betting on it

From coal, a new source of rare earths

Trump drops, replaces Obama-era regulations to cut coal CO2 emission

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