Fossil Fuels
Chemistry: Cambridge International GCSE Supplement, topic 11.3.1
Petroleum (Crude Oil) and Natural Gas
Fossil fuels are formed over millions of years because of the decay of buried dead organisms. Coal, natural gas and petroleum (crude oil) are all fossil fuels. Crude oil is a non-renewable (finite) resource.
Fossilised plankton
- Crude oil is made from the fossilised remnants of ancient plankton.
Found in rocks
- Crude oil is found in rocks and is used to produce fuels and other important chemicals.
Mixture of compounds
- Crude oil is a mixture of lots of different compounds that are not chemically combined.
- Most of the compounds in crude oil are hydrocarbons.
Most compounds are hydrocarbons
- Hydrocarbons are molecules made up of only hydrogen and carbon atoms.
- Hydrocarbons differ in their size, which can change the properties of the hydrocarbon.
Natural gas
- Natural gas is mostly made up of methane (CH4).
Test yourself on Fossil Fuels
Where is petroleum (crude oil) found?
Petroleum (crude oil) is...
What are most of the compounds in petroleum (crude oil)?