Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels are non-renewable energy sources formed from the compressed remains of ancient organisms, particularly plankton and plants, that died and were buried under sediment millions of years ago. The main fossil fuels are coal, oil (petroleum), and natural gas.
Real World
Saudi Aramco, the world's largest oil company, extracted over 12 million barrels per day in 2023, combusting carbon that was locked away during the Jurassic period and releasing it into the atmosphere within seconds of burning.
Exam Focus
Specify formation timescales (300–400 million years) versus combustion timescales (instantaneous) to illustrate why fossil fuel use disrupts carbon cycle equilibrium.
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