Three Main Types Of Fossil Fuel: Natural Gas, Crude Oil, And Coal

Fossil Fuel
Name
Institution
Fossil Fuel
Fossil fuels are non-renewable energy sources since they take millions of years to be formed and the depletion rate is high due to the high energy consumption in the world. Basically, fossil fuels are formed from fossils, which are remains of dead bodies and plants that decay over a long period of time(Sherman, 2004). Soil layers press down on these fossils to form fossil fuels. The supply of fossil fuels was high when they were first discovered but over the years, they have become scarce resources and we have seen the cost of acquiring them rise gradually. Currently, the environmental impacts of fossil fuel have gathered much attention and other sources of energy that are renewable and more environmentally friendly are being explored.
Types of Fossil Fuel
There are three main types of fossil fuel that are used as sourceof energyand they include natural gas, crude oil, and coal.
Natural Gas
This is a mixture of gases found underground, with methane being the major component. Natural gas is obtained from dead land plants and aquatic organisms and is extracted from the ground through drilling(Moore, 2016). It is however liquidified due to its low density nature to make its transportation easier. Natural gas accumulations discoveries are dated back to 2000 BC in the Iran region. China is said to be the first to drill natural gas in 211 BC. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), which is a natural gas containing heavy petroleum compounds, is said to have been used back in 18th century as a source of portable fuel. It is now commonly used by domestic consumers for cooking and other commercial purposes such as welding. Natural gas is the most environmentally-friendly fossil fuel because it does not emit soot, carbon monoxide and other gases that threaten the environment.
Crude Oil
This is a thick black liquid found beneath the earth surface made up of hydrocarbons. The oil is usually drilled from underground and then pumped to the surface where it is then refined into fuel for motorvehicles and planes. It is also a raw material for plastics and other chemicals such as fertilisers. Crude oil is highly flammable in nature and has to be handled with care. Crude oil was discovered in the middle east region. The Chinese were the first to use crude oil as a source of energy in the 1st century. The demand for oil increased in the 18th century after the drilling technology was developed (Moore, 2016). The first accumulations of crude oil in the U.S were drilled in 1859 in Pennsylvania.
Çoal
This is a solid, black carbonaceous rock made up of carbon as the major component. Other components include hydrogen, sulphur and water. It is usually mined from the ground where soil beds and rocks are removed using machines and then used to produce electricity. Coal is the largest form of fossil fuel, making it the largest source of energy. Coal mining has been there for ages with evidence revealing that coal mining is dated back to 3490 BC in China(Morris, 2006). Coal became popular in Europe as a result of depleting sources of firewood. The use of coal spread to the United States of America during the Industrial Revolution, where it was used as a source of power for machines and l...