Difference between revisions of "Fossil fuels"
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==Background== | ==Background== | ||
Fossil Fuels are predominately [[hydrocarbon]] material formed from plant material over geological time under heat and pressure. Examples include [[coal]] and [[oil]] and their derived products of [[petroleum]] or [[gasoline]]. A lot of coal comes from [[West Virginia]], [[Wyoming]] and [[Pennsylvania]]. | Fossil Fuels are predominately [[hydrocarbon]] material formed from plant material over geological time under heat and pressure. Examples include [[coal]] and [[oil]] and their derived products of [[petroleum]] or [[gasoline]]. A lot of coal comes from [[West Virginia]], [[Wyoming]] and [[Pennsylvania]]. | ||
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| + | ==Uses== | ||
| + | Fossil fuels are used in the production of plastic. | ||
==Downsides== | ==Downsides== | ||
Revision as of 22:04, May 3, 2007
Background
Fossil Fuels are predominately hydrocarbon material formed from plant material over geological time under heat and pressure. Examples include coal and oil and their derived products of petroleum or gasoline. A lot of coal comes from West Virginia, Wyoming and Pennsylvania.
Uses
Fossil fuels are used in the production of plastic.
Downsides
Fossil fuels have been criticized as producing a lot of pollution, including sulfur dioxide (from small amounts of organic sulfur compounds) which produces acid rain and carbon dioxide.
Finite Resource?
Because of the long time period required for fossil fuels to be produced in nature, fossil fuels are a finite resource. (See Hubbert's peak.)