Using corn to produce ethanol can lead to a competition for land and resources between food production and fuel production. This can result in higher food prices and food scarcity, as large amounts of farmland are dedicated to growing crops for ethanol rather than for human consumption. Additionally, the intensive farming of corn can contribute to issues such as soil degradation, water use concerns, and increased use of fertilizers and pesticides, which can have negative environmental impacts. Therefore, replacing corn with a different plant, such as switchgrass, could help alleviate these concerns by providing a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative for ethanol production.
Ethanol is a chemical that can be synthetically produced from the sugars of plants, such as corn, using the fermentation reaction shown below. The reaction shows that sugar from plants can be broken down into ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat.
sugar → ethanol + carbon dioxide + heat
In the United States, the sugar used to produce ethanol is commonly gained from corn—the same type of corn that is used for some foods, like corn flour, corn syrup, and corn oil. The ethanol can then be used as fuel in automobiles.
Scientists and engineers are working to develop ways to replace corn with a different plant, such as switchgrass, in the production of ethanol. This is largely because using corn to produce ethanol could cause a problem for society. Which statement describes this problem?
1 answer