Fossil Fuels - Nonrenewable Energy Sources

Fossil Fuels - Nonrenewable Energy Sources

• Fossil fuels are non-renewable energy sources.
• They are formed from the remains of ancient organisms.
• Coal, oil, and natural gas are examples of fossil fuels.
• Fossil fuels currently make up 80% of the world's energy supply (in 2022).
• These fuels have high carbon and hydrogen content, making them hydrocarbons.
• Fossil fuels are burned to generate electricity and used in various products.
• Examples of hydrocarbon products are gasoline, propane, jet fuel, diesel, asphalt, heating oil, and chemical feedstocks.

Formation of Fossil Fuels

• Fossil fuels are formed from plants, algae, and small animals that lived millions of years ago in swamps or shallow seas.
• Deposited in swamp water, they decomposed slowly due to a lack of oxygen.
• Sediments accumulated over time, resulting in pressure and heat, converting the organic material into fossil fuels (coal, oil, or natural gas).
• The process of forming fossil fuels is influenced by time, pressure, and heat, though the basic "recipe" remains the same.

Coal - Formation, Usage and Extraction

• Coal is a solid fossil fuel.
• Coal forms from the compression and heating of plant matter over long periods.
• Stages of coal formation progress from peat to lignite to coal.
• It's primarily used to generate electricity globally.
• Coal is also a necessary ingredient in coke, used for steel production.
• Coal is extracted from underground mines via various methods.

Oil - Formation, Usage and Extraction

• Oil is a liquid fossil fuel.
• Oil forms from the remains of marine organisms buried and compressed over millions of years.
• Oil is refined into various products at oil refineries.
• Some commercially important products are gasoline, propane, jet fuel, diesel, asphalt, heating oil, and chemical feedstocks.
• Oil is the primary source for global transportation.

Natural Gas - Formation, Usage and Extraction

• Natural gas is a gaseous fossil fuel.
• Natural gas forms alongside coal and oil in similar geological conditions.
• Natural gas is used to generate electricity and for home heating.

Combustion of Hydrocarbons and Wood

• The burning of hydrocarbons and wood releases water (H₂O) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) as by-products.

Global Distribution of Energy Sources

• Fossil fuels currently account for 80% of global energy use.

Explore the world of fossil fuels, which are non-renewable energy sources formed from ancient organisms. This quiz covers their formation, types, uses, and significance in the current energy supply. Test your understanding of coal, oil, and natural gas, as well as their impact on our environment.