Formation of fossil fuels
I can describe what coal, oil and natural gas are, how they formed, and why they are non-renewable energy resources.
Formation of fossil fuels
I can describe what coal, oil and natural gas are, how they formed, and why they are non-renewable energy resources.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Coal is a sedimentary rock that burns because it is made mostly of carbon, with some impurities.
- Coal is formed from deep sediments of organic matter made of prehistoric plants.
- Oil and gas formed from dead plankton mixed in with sediments that formed millions of years ago.
- Oil and natural gas are found in pores of sedimentary rock.
- The organic matter that formed coal, oil and natural gas decomposed into hydrocarbons.
Common misconception
Thinking we can keep finding more fossil fuels to use, and that they are a renewable energy resource.
Teach that fossil fuels take millions of years to form and they are being used at a faster rate than they are produced.
Keywords
Organic matter - Organic matter comes from living organisms. It contains carbon atoms as the main framework of compounds to which hydrogen atoms can attach.
Plankton - Plankton are microscopic, aquatic plants and animals.
Decomposition - Decomposition is the break down of dead and decaying matter.
Hydrocarbons - Hydrocarbons are molecules made up of hydrogen and carbon atoms only.
Fossil fuel - Fossil fuels are formed over millions of years from the dead remains of organisms.
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Video
Loading...
Starter quiz
6 Questions
this comes from living organisms
microscopic, aquatic plants and animals
the break down of dead and decaying matter
formed over millions of years from the dead remains of organisms