4-9 Fossil Fuels

Some of the fossil fuels used for energy are natural gas, oil, coal, and petroleum products manufactured from oil.  These products include kerosene and gasoline.  Oil, coal and gas are all found underground.  They are made from carbon, which is an element found in all living things.  Scientists believe that the carbon comes from the remains of animals and plants that lived millions of years ago.  When these animals died, their bodies decayed and oil, coal, and natural gas were formed.  Scientists call these fuels fossil fuels because the remains of ancient plants and animals are called fossils.

Oil is a liquid fuel found beneath the ground and under the oceans.  Gasoline used for cars, planes, and ships is made from oil.

Natural gas is often found along with oil deposits.  It is used for heating homes and for cooking.  Some appliances that use natural gas include: hot water heater, clothes dryer, kitchen stove, and furnace.

Coal is a black rocklike material found underground.  Coal is used to produce heat and electricity.

You know most of the energy we use comes from fossil fuels.  You also know that coal, oil, and natural gas contain the element carbon.  When fossil fuels are burned, the carbon reacts with oxygen in the air.  When the carbon combines with oxygen, a gas called carbon dioxide is also produced.  This builds up in the air and causes pollution.  The smoky exhaust from factories and cars can damage the environment.  Scientists are concerned that this build-up of carbon dioxide keeps heat from escaping back into space.  If this continues scientists are concerned that the polar ice caps could met.  This in turn would cause the oceans to rise and coastal cities could be flooded.

The concerns about the dangers of fossil fuels and the fact that fossil fuels won't last forever are two major concerns scientists face on a daily basis.  For these reasons it is necessary to develop new energy sources.

Directions: Answer the questions about fossil fuels.

is the element found in all living things.

Oil, coal and gas are made from the element .

Gasoline used for cars, planes, and ships is made from the fossil fuel .

is a black rocklike fossil fuel found underground.

is a liquid fuel found beneath the ground and under the oceans.

Which of the fossil fuels is often found with oil deposits?

coal
natural gas

Which of the following is a true statement?

Scientists believe that carbon comes from the remains of animals and plants that lived millions of years ago. 
Scientists do not believe that carbon comes from the remains of animals and plants that lived millions of years ago.

Petroleum products manufactured from oil are kerosene and  .

When the carbon combines with , a gas called carbon dioxide is also produced.