1. Fossil Fuels

2. Does the term fossil fuel sound like anything familiar?

7. Fossil Fuels
A fossil fuel is a nonrenewable energy resource formed from the remains of organisms that lived long ago.
Examples include oil, coal, petroleum, and natural gas
Energy is released from fossil fuels when they are burned. They are nonrenewable, so when they are burned, they are gone!

8. Fossil Fuels
All living things are made up of carbon. Since fossil fuels are formed from the remains of plants and animals, all fossil fuels are made of carbon.
Most carbon exists as a hydrogen-carbon compound called hydro-carbons.

9. Types of Fossil Fuels
Petroleum (crude oil) is a liquid mixture of hydrocarbon compounds and is widely used as a fuel.
Examples: gasoline, jet fuel, kerosene, diesel, and fuel oil

10. Types of Fossil Fuels
Natural gas is a mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons located under the surface of the Earth; often near petroleum deposits.
Natural gas is usually used for heating, but could also be used for energy.
Natural gas creates less air pollution (pro), but it is more flammable (con)
Components include: methane, butane, propane

11. Types of Fossil Fuels
Coal is a solid fossil fuel that forms underground from partially decomposed plant material.
Used in stoves for heat; trains; ships
Coal produces large amounts of air pollution; it is used less for heating; however, power plants use it for electrical energy

12. Fossil Fuel Formation
Petroleum & natural gas form mainly from the remains of microscopic sea organisms.
Over time, the fossil remains are buried and compacted in sediment on the ocean floor.
The remains become gas  move through permeable rocks  gas gathers in reservoirs  it is collected through drilling
This is an ongoing process, but takes millions of years

13. Fossil Fuel Formation
Coal forms underground over millions of years when pressure and heat cause changes in the remains of swamp plants.
Stage 1: Peat forms
Stage 2: Lignite Forms
Stage 3: Bituminous Coal Forms
Stage 4: Anthracite Forms

14. Fossil Fuel Location Fossil fuels are found on land and in water.
The U.S. has large reserves of petroleum, natural gas, and coal.
We also import about ½ of our petroleum from the Middle East, South America, Africa, Canada, and Mexico

15. Obtaining Fossil Fuels
Drilling wells into rock - petroleum and natural gas
Drilling on land and in water – oil
Mining (deep and surface) – coal
Surface mining is also known as strip mining because soil and rock are stripped from the Earth’s surface, to expose the underlying coal.

16. Problems with Fossil Fuels
Air pollution from burning coal can cause acid precipitation.
Acid precipitation is rain, sleet, or snow, that contains a high concentration of acids, often because of the pollution in the atmosphere.
It negatively affects wildlife, plants, buildings, and statues.

17. Problems with Fossil Fuels
Coal mining removes necessary soil, lowers water tables, and pollutes water supplies.
Producing, transporting, and using petroleum can cause environmental problems and endanger wildlife. This is mainly due to oil leaks and spills.
Smog is photochemical haze that forms when sunlight acts on industrial pollutants and burning fuels. Smog is worse in big cities like Houston and Los Angeles.