Fossil Fuels

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Fossil Fuel Noun

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[fos-uhl fyool]

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Fossil Fuel

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A natural fuel like coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms.

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Example: This diagram shows how fossil fuels, like oil and gas, are trapped underground beneath layers of rock and are extracted using a pumpjack.

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Non-renewable Adjective

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[non-ri-noo-uh-buhl]

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Non-renewable

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A resource that cannot be readily replaced by natural means at a pace quick enough to keep up with consumption.

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Example: This diagram shows examples of non-renewable energy sources, such as fossil fuels (oil, coal, natural gas) and nuclear power, which are finite resources.

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Hydrocarbon Noun

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[hahy-droh-kahr-buhn]

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Hydrocarbon

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An organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon atoms, which are the chief components of petroleum and natural gas.

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Example: This image shows a model of methane, the simplest hydrocarbon, which is made of one carbon atom (grey) and four hydrogen atoms (blue).

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Coal Noun

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[kohl]

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Coal

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A combustible black or dark brown rock consisting mainly of carbonized plant matter, found in underground deposits and seams.

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Example: This image shows a piece of coal and lists its main chemical components, such as carbon, hydrogen, and sulfur, which are key to its identity as a fossil fuel.

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Petroleum Noun

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[puh-troh-lee-uhm]

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Petroleum

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A liquid fossil fuel, also known as crude oil, composed of hydrocarbons found in underground reservoirs.

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Example: This diagram shows how crude oil (petroleum) is heated and separated into different useful fuels and products in a process called fractional distillation.

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Natural Gas Noun

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[nach-er-uhl gas]

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Natural Gas

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A flammable gas, consisting largely of methane and other hydrocarbons, that occurs naturally underground in rock formations.

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Example: Over millions of years, heat and pressure transform buried organic matter into natural gas, which gets trapped under layers of impermeable rock.

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Methane Noun

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[meth-eyn]

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Methane

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A colorless, odorless, flammable gas which is the main constituent of natural gas and a potent greenhouse gas.

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Example: This diagram shows a methane molecule (CH4), which is made of one central carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms.

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Combustible Adjective

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[kuhm-buhs-tuh-buhl]

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Combustible

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Describing a substance that is capable of catching fire and burning easily when exposed to heat or flame.

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Example: A combustible material, like a hydrocarbon from fossil fuels, reacts with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide, water, and energy in the form of heat and light.

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Greenhouse Gas Noun

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[green-hous gas]

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Greenhouse Gas

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A gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide.

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Example: This diagram shows how greenhouse gases, like CO₂ from factories, trap heat from the sun in the atmosphere, warming the Earth.

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Acid Rain Noun

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[as-id reyn]

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Acid Rain

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Rainfall made acidic by atmospheric pollution that causes environmental harm to forests, lakes, and man-made structures.

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Example: Pollutants like sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) from burning fossil fuels in factories mix with water in the atmosphere to form acid rain.