Fossil Fuels

Junior Science

Lesson Objectives

What are Fuels?

Fuels are substances which burn in oxygen to produce heat.

The main reaction occurring is:

Fuel + Oxygen Carbon dioxide +Water + Energy

Non-Renewable vs. Renewable

Fuels
Fossil fuels are considered a non-renewable
resource because they take millions of years
to form and sources are rapidly depleting
faster than new ones are being formed.

Renewable resources are continuously

being replaced by nature

What Fossil Fuels ?

Fossil fuels are fuels formed from the decayed and fossilised
remains of ancient organisms over millions of years.
They are rich in carbon and made of compounds called
Hydrocarbons containing the elements Hydrogen and Carbon.
Hydrocarbons store energy in their Atomic bonds.
Energy in Hydrocarbons is released very easily - We just

burn them.

Types of Fossil Fuels

There are three main types of fossil fuels:

Oil

Gas

Coal

All three are the fossilised remains of

ancient plants and sea creatures.

The Formation of Oil

Over 200 million years ago

Phyloplankton

Zooplankton

The Formation of Coal

Carboniferous period
(345 and 280 million years ago)

Natural Gas
98% Methane and estimated to be 10 times more
harmful to the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.

Advantages of Fossil Fuels

Coal, oil and natural gas are abundant
Relatively inexpensive to mine
They have a straightforward combustion
process
Easily transported
Important ingredient for the
production of plastics

Disadvantages of using Fossil fuels

Extraction can be very damaging to the
landscape
Supply is limited and will eventually run out.
Release CO2 impacting global warming.
Coal and oil release Sulphur dioxide (SO 2)
which contributes to acid rain.

Combustion
Combustion is a
chemical reaction
chemical that occurs
between a fuel and
oxygen to produce
energy, usually in
the form of heat and
light.

By-Products of Combustion
When fossil fuels are burned carbon and
hydrogen react with oxygen in air to form
Carbon dioxide (CO2) and Water (H2O).
During this reaction Heat is released which
further increases the reaction.

Products of Combustion

Funnel

Hydrocarbon

Tee light
/ Candle

Water
Test
Cobalt
Chloride
Paper
(Blue Pink)

or
Anhydrous
Copper Sulphate
(white Blue)

Carbon Dioxide
Test

Lime water