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Fossil Fuel Introduction and Types

Fossil fuels are non-renewable energy sources formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals. There are three main types: coal, crude oil, and natural gas. Coal forms from buried plants subjected to heat and pressure, while oil and gas form in similar ways from buried marine organisms. Fossil fuels are important as they currently meet 80% of global energy demand, being used for electricity generation and transportation. However, their combustion produces greenhouse gases like CO2 that contribute to climate change.

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487 views3 pages

Fossil Fuel Introduction and Types

Fossil fuels are non-renewable energy sources formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals. There are three main types: coal, crude oil, and natural gas. Coal forms from buried plants subjected to heat and pressure, while oil and gas form in similar ways from buried marine organisms. Fossil fuels are important as they currently meet 80% of global energy demand, being used for electricity generation and transportation. However, their combustion produces greenhouse gases like CO2 that contribute to climate change.

Uploaded by

salem
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Fossil Fuel Introduction and Types

Fossil Fuel Introduction and Types

Fossil Fuel Introduction:

Fossil fuels are naturally occurring and non-renewable (Once completed then it’s done) energy sources.
Fossil fuel contains fuels such as Coal, Natural Gas, and Oil. They have formed hundreds of millions of
years ago. People also say that they have formed even before the age of the dinosaurs. Due to the non-
renewable nature of fossil fuel and non-uniform distribution on earth sometimes it becomes a matter of
concern between different nations.

Fossil Fuel History:

The fossil fuel is formed by the natural decomposition of animals and plants (who once lived) in the
presence of heat and high pressure. Oil and Gas formed by the burial of plants and animals and
decomposed at very high temperature and pressure in the absence of oxygen. Then formed gas and oil
migrates through pores and can be collected from reservoirs. Coal is formed by the same process as oil
and gas but with a little less pressure and temperature and hardened to form coal.

Importance of Fossil Fuel:

Fossil fuels are burned to produce heat and energy which are utilized in different ways. Fossil fuel
feeds 80% of the energy requirement of the world. It is used to produce electricity and used in
transportation. It is also useful in cosmetics, plastic, and even in medicine production. Now, you can
think that how much important fossil fuel is. Nowadays the major use of fossil fuel is in industries. The
most important factor in the Industrial revolution is Fossil fuel.

Fossil Fuel Introduction and Types

Types of Fossil Fuels

1. Coal
2. Crude Oil
3. Natural Gas

1. Coal:

It is formed by the burial of plants at a very great depth of the earth where it got heat and pressure
which made it very hard and carbonaceous. At first, we found coal which is a little less hard and
premature which is called lignite or peat coal. After some years due to chemical changes in presence of
pressure and temperature coal became mature and hard which is called sub-bituminous coal. After that,
we found coal called bituminous coal, and then fully matured coal is known as Anthracite coal. The
coal is further classified by its moisture and carbon content. The lignite and bituminous coal have very
high moisture content and less carbon content so it will produce less energy compared to matured coal.
On the other side, anthracite coal has higher carbon content and they are harder than lignite coal.
Anthracite coal produces higher energy.

2. Crude Oil:

Crude oil is the liquid oil found from the earth’s crust. It is a mixture of hydrocarbons. It contains not
only liquid but also gas and solid so before using it as an energy source we need to purify it. Crude oil
from different locations on earth contains different compositions that’s why we found different
densities and colors of crude oil. We purify crude oil, we use refineries. From refinery, we got many
products from crude oil like natural gas, petrol, diesel, kerosene, naptha, etc. Crude oil taken out from
oceans contains sand and water which we need to remove first. Sand is removed by the settling process
and water is removed by the demulsification process. To reduce air pollution we need to remove sulfur
from crude oil which produces SO2 by combustion. By knowing the different products of crude oil we
can say that crude oil is the most useful fossil fuel.

3. Natural Gas:

We found natural gas above crude oil reservoirs. It is an odorless and colorless gas. It is a mixture of
hydrocarbons most likely methane, ethane, and propane. Natural gas emits fewer pollutant gases than
other fossil fuels. It is used in household uses, cooking purposes, and electricity production. Nowadays
natural gas is becoming a very important fuel option than others due to its less pollutant production
nature.

Problems with fossil fuel:

Fossil fuels produce CO2 which is the most harmful gas in the environment. From total CO2 produced
in the world, only Coal combustion produces 44% of it. This is the highest individual figure of all fuel.
Not only CO2 but it also produces other greenhouse gases which increase the temperature on earth and
cause global warming.

Reference:- wermac, britannica, sciencedaily

VEDIO

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