The fossil fuels are compounds of hydrogen and carbon known as hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbons may be liquid, solid, and gas. The solid form is coal, the gaseous form is natural gas and the liquid form is crude oil or petroleum. The solar energy that is stored in fossil fuels can be a rich energy source. As they take a long time to form, these are nonrenewable.
Kinds of Fossil Fuels
The kinds of Fossil Fuels are discussed in our Fossil Fuel Formation homework writing help as follows:
Coal: Coal is a widely used fossil fuel. Coal is formed from plants, which grow near or in swamps in humid and warm regions of the Earth. Dead plant matters fall into swamps and they settle at the bottom and form into a thick layer. After millions of years, sediment compresses the decayed plant matter. The heat and pressure of sediment layers altered the peat into soft coal. Continued pressure and heat change it into harder coal form.
Natural gas and Petroleum: Natural gas and petroleum are common gaseous and liquid fossil fuels. Petroleum is known as crude oil. Petroleum refers to the liquid form and technically, it includes natural gas. Oil and gas are formed from the buried remains of small aquatic animals including algae and zooplankton. When these organisms are decomposed the buried remains are changed into a substance known as kerogen.
With increasing pressure and heat for millions of years, more sediment layers are transformed into petroleum. The main fossil fuels are gasoline and fuel oils like diesel and furnace oils. Kerosene is used in many places for space heating and cooking. Natural gas is used for cooking and heating.
Other fossil fuels: Coke and peat are fossil fuels, which are commonly used. Peat is an efficient fuel and it burns slowly giving little heat and much smoke. Coke remains after tar and gases are extracted from coal. It produces heat without smoke and it is used widely in blast furnaces.