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Summary Sources of Energy: FOSSIL FUEL
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Sources of Energy: FOSSIL FUEL advantages and disadvantages of fossil fuels
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Sources of Energy:FOSSIL FUEL
Figure 1. Fossil Fuel Cycle
COAL CRUDE OIL
NATURAL GAS
SUMMARY
Fossil fuel is a general term for buried combustible geologic deposits of organic materials, formed
from decayed plants and animals that have been converted to crude oil, coal, natural gas, or heavy oils by
exposure to heat and pressure in the earth's crust over hundreds of millions of years. The burning of fossil
fuels by humans is the largest source of emissions of carbon dioxide, which is one of the greenhouse gases
that allows radiative forcing and contributes to global warming. Fossil fuel serves as the largest source of
energy and even though there are advantages in harnessing this energy, there are also disadvantages that
should be looked on to.
, VOCABULARY
Anaerobic Decomposition - a collection of processes by which microorganisms break down biodegradable
material in the absence of oxygen. The process is used for industrial or domestic purposes to manage waste
or to produce fuels.
Carbon Dioxide - is a clear gas composed of one atom of carbon (C) and two atoms of oxygen (O). It is
one of many molecules where carbon is commonly found on the Earth. It does not burn, and in standard
temperature and pressure conditions it is stable, inert, and non-toxic.
Coal - a fossil fuel that forms when dead plant matter is converted into peat, which in turn is converted into
lignite, then sub-bituminous coal, after that bituminous coal, and lastly anthracite. This involves biological
and geological processes. The geological processes take place over millions of years.
Fossil - is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age.
Fuel - any material that can be made to react with other substances so that it releases energy as heat energy
or to be used for work.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions - a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiant energy within the
thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect.
Kerosene - widely used to power jet engines of aircraft (jet fuel) and some rocket engines and is also
commonly used as a cooking and lighting fuel and for fire toys such as poi.
Methane Clathrates - a solid clathrate compound (more specifically, a clathrate hydrate) in which a large
amount of methane is trapped within a crystal structure of water, forming a solid similar to ice.
Natural Gas - a fossil fuel used as a source of energy for heating, cooking, and electricity generation. It is
also used as a fuel for vehicles and as a chemical feedstock in the manufacture of plastics and other
commercially important organic chemicals.
Non-renewable resources - is a resource of economic value that cannot be readily replaced by natural
means on a level equal to its consumption. Most fossil fuels, such as oil, natural gas and coal are considered
nonrenewable resources in that their use is not sustainable because their formation takes billions of years.
Non-volatile Materials - a substance that does not readily evaporate into a gas under existing conditions.
Petroleum - it consists of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other organic compounds. The
name petroleum covers both naturally occurring unprocessed crude oil and petroleum products that are
made up of refined crude oil.
Photosynthesis - a process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy into chemical energy
that can later be released to fuel the organisms' activities (energy transformation).
Propane - it is a gas at standard temperature and pressure, but compressible to a transportable liquid.
DISCUSSION
A fossil fuel is a fuel formed by natural processes, such as anaerobic decomposition of buried dead
organisms, containing energy originating in ancient photosynthesis. The age of the organisms and their
resulting fossil fuels is typically millions of years, and sometimes exceeds 650 million years. Fossil fuels
contain high percentages of carbon and include petroleum, coal, and natural gas. Other commonly used
derivatives include kerosene and propane. Fossil fuels range from volatile materials with low carbon to
hydrogen ratios like methane, to liquids like petroleum, to nonvolatile materials composed of almost pure
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