Fuels and Natural Resources

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Which of the following best describes the primary characteristic that defines a substance as a fuel?

Its physical state (solid, liquid, or gas) at room temperature.
Its ability to be efficiently combusted to produce energy. (correct)
Its complex chemical composition containing carbon and hydrogen.
Its natural occurrence in the environment.

Why are coal and petroleum classified as fossil fuels?

They are formed from the accumulation and compression of organic matter over millions of years. (correct)
They are primarily composed of minerals and inorganic compounds found in sedimentary rocks.
They are mined from deep underground and are very old.
They are created through volcanic activity, transforming organic materials into energy-rich substances.

Consider three different substances: wood, natural gas, and rock. Based on the definition of 'fuel', which of these is/are correctly identified as fuel?

Natural gas only
Wood, natural gas, and rock
Wood and natural gas (correct)
Only Rock

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of coal?

Liquid at room temperature. (A) Signup and view all the answers

How does the process of fossil fuel formation differ fundamentally from the creation of biofuels?

Fossil fuels form over millions of years from ancient organisms, while biofuels are produced from recently living biomass. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes how exhaustible natural resources differ from inexhaustible natural resources?

Exhaustible resources are limited in quantity and can be depleted by human activities, while inexhaustible resources are virtually unlimited and not easily depleted. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following human activities would directly contribute to the depletion of an exhaustible natural resource?

Deforestation for agricultural expansion. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Considering the classification of natural resources, what long-term environmental impact is most likely to result from the continuous, unsustainable consumption of fossil fuels?

The eventual depletion of fossil fuel reserves and increased reliance on alternative energy sources. (C) Signup and view all the answers

A community decides to switch from using coal to solar energy. How does this change impact the availability and use of natural resources?

It decreases the consumption rate of exhaustible resources and increases reliance on inexhaustible resources. (B) Signup and view all the answers

In what scenario might a resource traditionally considered inexhaustible become effectively exhaustible in a specific region?

Localized pollution or overuse that diminishes the resource's usability. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is fuel?

Any substance that efficiently releases energy when burned.

What are fossil fuels?

Fuels formed naturally from buried organic material over millions of years.