Fossil Fuels

• FOSSIL FUELS are substances that were created from the remains of plants and animals that lived and died millions of years ago.
• These remains were buried under increasing layers of rock and pressure until Carbon and Hydrogen linked up in long chains called HYDROCARBONS.

• Fossil Fuel hydrocarbon molecules store a huge amount of Chemical Potential Energy in their long bonds.
• When we add a spark in an Oxygen rich environment, the molecules rapidly react releasing Heat and Light Energy in an Exothermic Reaction.

Coal provides 10% of US energy

• Coal is most commonly burned to generate electricity.
• About half this electricity is sent to power people’s homes (residential) and the rest is used to power factories (industrial) and business buildings (commercial).

Petroleum provides 36% of US energy

• Petroleum is most commonly used in the form of fuel for engines.
• 90% of petroleum is used to move planes, trains and cars around and the rest is used to power generators at factories, businesses and houses.

Natural Gas provides 33% of US energy

• Natural Gas is often piped directly to homes and businesses as fuel for water and house heaters.
• Gas can also be used in special engines to run cars and generate electricity at industrial settings.

• Because we burn fossil fuels to release energy, all of them release Carbon Dioxide and other substances that are mixed into them creating air pollution.
• Click on each fuel below to learn about more specific ways each causes pollution.
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