what is fossil fuels?

Answer 1

Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons, primarily coal and petroleum, formed from the fossilized remains of dead plants and animals by exposure to heat and pressure in the Earth's crust over hundreds of millions of years. In common parlance, the term "fossil fuel" also includes hydrocarbon-containing natural resources that are not derived entirely from biological sources, such as tar sands. These latter sources are properly known as mineral fuels.

Fossil fuels have made large-scale industrial development possible and have largely supplanted water-driven mills, as well as the combustion of wood or peat for heat. With global modernization in the 20th and 21st centuries, the growth in energy production from fossil fuels, especially gasoline derived from oil, is one of the causes of major regional and global conflicts. A global movement toward the generation of renewable energy is therefore underway to help meet the increased global energy needs.

The burning of fossil fuels by humans is the largest source of emissions of carbon dioxide, which is one of the greenhouse gases that enhances radiative forcing and contributes to global warming. The atmospheric concentration of CO2, a greenhouse gas, is increasing, raising concerns that solar heat will be trapped and the average surface temperature of the Earth will rise in response. A small portion of hydrocarbon-based fuels are biofuels derived from atmospheric carbon dioxide, and thus do not increase the net amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

FOR MORE INFO GO TO THE LINK
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_fuels

Answer 2

Fossil fuels are those that formed in the Earth millenia ago.
Like Crude Oil and Natural Gas are the result of the transformation of decomposed sea-life organisms deep under ground due to the action of Pressure, Heat, Catalysis and Time in the ABSENCE of Oxygen.

Coal is formed by similar processes acting on the trees and vegetation buried by changes in the Earths crust, again, millenia ago.

Note the word 'Organisms' ...giving rise to Organic Compounds found in fossil fuels. (Dinosaurs were not involved). The 'Tar Sands' formed from crude oils rising to the surface, also long, long ago and they gradually became tar due to natural distillation caused by the elements of sun and wind acting upon the oil resulting in a very heavy tar residue).

Answer 3

Fossil fuels are naturally occurring hydrocarbons in the earth's crust that we can use as fuel.
Hydrocarbons are molecules containing principally hydrogen and carbon atoms with some others like oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur.
They appear in a variety of forms including:
tar sands
shale oil
coal
natural gas
crude oil

These are fossilized remains of plant life left over from millions of years of ancient swamps and forests from previous geological eras.

Currently crude oil is extracted from the earth at the rate of 84 million 42 gallon barrels each and every day!

Fossil fuels supply more energy than any other source.
(see hydroelectric and nuclear).

Answer 4

Fossil Fuels are the organic compounds that are found below lithosphere and are formed by the decomposition of the dead remains of animals and plants.this is a very slow process and takes millions of years they are formed due to the enormus temprature and pressure in the earth hence it is very precious Now efforts are being made to create artificial fossils
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Answer 5

Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons, primarily coal and petroleum (fuel oil or natural gas), formed from the fossilized remains of dead plants and animals[1] by exposure to heat and pressure in the Earth's crust over hundreds of millions of years.

Answer 6

hi! fossil fuels are the nonrenewable (which get consumed once and for all and can't be reused) sources of energy like coal and petroleum products (gas, diesel, petrol, paraffin, wax, kerosene, etc) that are formed deep down into the earth's crust.

the use of these sources of fuel cause production of carbon dioxide and other gases which in excess can harm earth's atmosphere. the use of these fossil fuels should be minimised.

Answer 7

Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons,coal & petroleum(fuel oil or natural gas). they are called fossil fuels because they are formed by the organic remains of prehistoric animals and plants.fossil fuels are a non-renewable source of energy.the largest amount of carbon dioxide is emitted by the burning of fossil fuels and this contributes to global warming.

Answer 8

Fossil fuels are fuels derived from coal and oil.

Answer 9

This is a chemistry question

Fossil fuel=fuel that made from dead organisms from millions of years ago and they have hydrocarbon chemical structures (mostly Hydrogen+Carbon+Oxygen)+few other elements

Answer 10

any fuel that has been composed of rotting algae and dinosaurs.