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What are the $ 4 $ types of fossil fuels?

seo-qna
Last updated date: 06th Sep 2024
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Answer
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Hint :Fossil fuels are the fuels which are formed by the decomposition of dead remains of organic matter by the microorganisms. These fuels take millions of years to form on the earth’s surface. They are conventional and non- renewable sources of energy and now we will discuss its type in detail.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
So, if we talk about fossil fuels, they are defined as the fuels which are formed when the dead and buried remains of plants and animals (organic matter) that lived millions of years ago are decomposed by microorganisms. These types of fuels are conventional and non-renewable sources of energy. We will now discuss the types of fossil fuels.
There are four types of fossil fuels:
(i) Petroleum: It is also known as crude oil. It is a Latin word meaning “rock oil”. It is formed of hydrocarbons and is a liquid fossil fuel. It is obtained from land or sea by drilling or by strip mining.
(ii) Coal: Coal is a hard carbon rock. It is a solid fuel. It sometimes also contains hydrogen, sulphur, nitrogen and oxygen. There are four types of coal: lignite, sub-bituminous, bituminous and anthracite. It is obtained by either underground mining or surface mining.
(iii) Natural gas: This fuel is in gaseous state. It mainly comprises hydrocarbon gas mixture (especially methane). They are located in porous rock beds that are obtained by standard drilling.
(iv) Orimulsion: Orimulsion obtained from the fields of Orinoco River in Venezuela and it comprise a mixture of natural bitumen and fresh water. It is stored and transported at room temperature. It has been used for a long time in Canada, Denmark and Japan.

Note :
Although fossil fuels are a very good source of energy, they have some disadvantages as it causes land degradation, air pollution, water pollution and global warming. They are conventional and non-renewable in nature but still they fulfil around eighty percent of energy demands in the world even now.