All flashcards
Flashcard 1: Which fossil fuel forms from plant material?
Answer: Coal. Coal originates from compressed ancient plant matter in swamps.
Flashcard 2: What is the term for the solid waste from coal combustion?
Answer: Fly ash. Fine particles of ash produced when coal burns in power plants.
Flashcard 3: What environmental impact is associated with oil spills?
Answer: Water pollution and harm to marine life. Oil coats marine organisms and disrupts ecosystems.
Flashcard 4: What is the primary use of coal?
Answer: Coal is primarily used for electricity generation. Coal burns in power plants to produce electrical energy.
Flashcard 5: Which fossil fuel is considered the cleanest burning?
Answer: Natural gas. Produces fewer pollutants and CO₂ per unit energy than coal or oil.
Flashcard 6: What is the term for the solid waste from coal combustion?
Answer: Fly ash. Fine particles of ash produced when coal burns in power plants.
Flashcard 7: Which fossil fuel is used in fertilizer production?
Answer: Natural gas. Methane provides hydrogen for ammonia-based fertilizer synthesis.
Flashcard 8: What is the main environmental concern with burning fossil fuels?
Answer: Release of greenhouse gases causing climate change. CO₂ and other emissions trap heat in the atmosphere.
Flashcard 9: What is hydraulic fracturing commonly known as?
Answer: Fracking. High-pressure water fractures rock to release trapped gas.
Flashcard 10: What is an oil refinery?
Answer: A facility where crude oil is processed and refined. Industrial plant that separates crude oil into usable products.
Flashcard 11: State the formula for calculating energy efficiency.
Answer: Efficiency=Total Energy InputUseful Energy Output×100. Measures how much input energy becomes useful output energy.
Flashcard 12: What does the term 'peak oil' refer to?
Answer: The point of maximum oil production rate. The theoretical point when oil production begins declining permanently.
Flashcard 13: What is the main disadvantage of fossil fuels?
Answer: Non-renewable and environmentally damaging. Finite supply and significant environmental pollution when used.
Flashcard 14: Which fossil fuel is often associated with acid rain?
Answer: Coal, due to sulfur emissions. Sulfur dioxide from coal forms acidic precipitation.
Flashcard 15: What is the main use of natural gas in households?
Answer: Heating and cooking. Natural gas burns cleanly for thermal energy applications.
Flashcard 16: List three main types of fossil fuels.
Answer: Coal, oil, and natural gas. These are the most commonly extracted and used fossil fuels.
Flashcard 17: Identify the primary fossil fuel used in electricity generation globally.
Answer: Coal. Coal-fired power plants dominate global electricity production.
Flashcard 18: What is the main component of gasoline?
Answer: Octane (C₈H₁₈). An eight-carbon hydrocarbon that resists engine knocking.
Flashcard 19: What equipment is used to extract oil from the ground?
Answer: Oil rig. Drilling platform used for petroleum extraction from wells.
Flashcard 20: What process converts organic material into fossil fuels over time?
Answer: The process is called carbonization. Heat and pressure gradually transform organic matter into carbon-rich fuels.
Flashcard 21: What is the primary environmental impact of natural gas leakage?
Answer: Methane emissions contribute to greenhouse effect. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas when released unburned.
Flashcard 22: What is the primary method of transporting natural gas?
Answer: Pipelines. Long-distance transport system for gaseous fuel distribution.
Flashcard 23: What is the main source of energy in fossil fuels?
Answer: Stored chemical energy from ancient organic matter. Solar energy captured by plants millions of years ago.
Flashcard 24: What is the term for coal deposits that can be mined economically?
Answer: Coal reserves. Coal that is accessible and profitable to extract.
Flashcard 25: Identify a byproduct of natural gas extraction.
Answer: Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S). H₂S is a toxic gas produced during natural gas processing.
Flashcard 26: Which fossil fuel is primarily used for transportation?
Answer: Oil is primarily used for transportation fuels. Refined into gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel for vehicles.
Flashcard 27: What is the process of refining crude oil called?
Answer: Distillation. Separates crude oil into different petroleum products by boiling point.
Flashcard 28: What is the main advantage of using natural gas over coal?
Answer: Lower carbon emissions. Natural gas burns cleaner with less carbon dioxide per unit energy.
Flashcard 29: What is a common product derived from crude oil?
Answer: Petroleum products like gasoline. Crude oil refining produces many useful hydrocarbon compounds.
Flashcard 30: Which fossil fuel is typically formed under the sea?
Answer: Oil. Marine sediments and pressure create ideal oil formation conditions.