Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels are a bi-product of decayed matter of animals and plants that have been exposed to pressure and heat below the earth's crust for a numerous number of years. This matter is broken down gradually into the hydrocarbons which make up fossil fuels.  The fossil fuels are a major source of energy in the world today.  Technological advances have made it easier to extract fossil fuels from commercially viable places. As a result, industry development and transportation processes have been achieved as a result of the use of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels can be found in solid, gas and liquid forms.
Source of the fossil fuels
The most common sources of fossil fuels found on earth are crude oil, coal, and natural gas. Coal is a solid type of fossil fuel that comes from the decay of vegetation. Decomposed vegetation is compacted and heated in a period of millions of years (Jaccard, 2006).  The hydrogen and carbon from decayed vegetation are organized into chains of hydrocarbons that discharge a huge amount of heat energy once combusted. Coal is dug up in mines deep below the earth's exterior. Oil is the most commonly used among fossil fuel with the Middle East being the largest reserves.
The second source of crude oil is fossil fuel. Fossil fuels are formed from the remains of marine microorganisms. By drilling into the earth, fossil fuels may be found trapped in rocks. Oil is the most common condensate or crude oil. Liquefied petroleum gas and Petroleum are some forms of fuel obtained from oil mining and refining.  Natural gas is a form of fossil fuels that is gaseous in nature (Soleimani et al., 2007). It is a mix of combustible hydrocarbon gasses. Similar to crude oil, it is formed from the decayed marine organisms. It is colorless and significantly made up of methane. It is obtained through drilling and may require sophisticated extraction technologies.
Found in the first time and how they used it in the past.
There is no definite date that shows the discovery of fossil fuel. According to researchers, Fossil fuels were used by ancient people long before they were extracted for commercial uses. Greek historians in the 1st century are believed to have used natural gas from the ground. During battles, Alexander the Great burned petroleum to drive away enemy war elephants. Additionally, Egyptians derived Asphalt from petroleum to mummify corpses. The Hopi Indians of the United States burned coal for heating and cooking during the 1300s. In 1673, Virginia settlers discovered coal but exploited it in the 1740s for commercial use.  During the industrial revolution in the 18the century, fossil fuels became the main source of energy.
   During the Industrial Revolution, they were used as the ideal energy source. Machines such as Steam locomotives used coal as the main source of fuel. The source of energy compensated for the compensated for the lack of charcoal and firewood.  It was largely used in its natural form.  The Japanese government in Meiji era (1868-1912) encouraged large-scale mining of coal due to its impact on industrialization. Ever since, large quantities of fossil fuels have mined and utilized to deliver unprecedented affluence to populations and power the economy.
It’s importance in our life
Fossil fuels are an essential part of our modern life.  Most countries depend on power generated from coals to meet domestic and commercial energy requirements. For example, more than half of electricity generated in the United States is from coal. Thus, fossil fuels form an essential part of the global economy.  Petroleum is used to power the internal combustion engines of vehicles either in the form of gasoline or petrol. A thick part of petroleum, bitumen is utilized extensively in making roads (Koonin, 2006). The petroleum product is also widely used in roofing industry due to its water repellent nature. Petroleum is widely used in the pharmacy industry in the manufacture of medicines such as aspirin. Food and beer industry also make use of petroleum.  For the production of synthetic products and plastics, petroleum is a major component in the manufacturing process.
Natural gas is widely used in cooking due to its ignition properties, self-cleaning, and easy temperature control nature. Due to its comparatively clean-burning nature and technological advancements, it has gained importance in homes and industries. Fossil fuels also form part of revenues generated by countries. Different nations in the Middle East generate revenues by selling fuels to other nations. This industry also provides employment to a large number of people.
The prices
Generally, fossil fuels are cheap sources of energy. The prices of fossil fuels are cheap due to its abundance and markup on the cost of mining to the transportation to the point of consumption. The world is accustomed to fossil fuel energy that is cheap.  Its abundance has also allowed the world to keep pace with or surpass demand. Fossil fuels are also stable and dense, making them incredibly convenient to transfer. These characteristics contribute to its low cost and associated low prices.  However, the prices of other renewable sources of energy have plummeted with time (Jaccard, 2006).
The advantages and disadvantages
There are many benefits and downsides of using fossil fuels. A major advantage is that fossil fuels produce more energy compared to other sources of energy.  When oil or oil mine is established, infrastructure and facilities can be set-up in a particular region.  This is because fossil fuels are found in abundance, making it cost effective to produce.  Additionally, transporting crude oil and natural gasses is very simple. From the mining site to the final consumers, some forms of fossil fuels can be simply transported by laying pipes (Ozalp & Epstein, 2009).
A disadvantage of using fossil fuels is that they cause pollution.  Gasoline and oil used in cars produce toxic gasses and carbon monoxides. The burning of coal generates sulfur dioxide, which has a negative impact on humans, animals, and the environment.   When accidents happen, fossil fuels have a devastating impact on the ecosystems (Navarro et al., 2007). For example, The Deepwater Horizon had a devastating effect on the environment, people, animals, and economy.  Pollution generated by fossil fuels also affects Earth’s climate problem and is believed to contribute to climate change problems.
How to save the fossil fuels for the future
Fossil fuels are some of the world’s non-renewable sources of energy. They are fast depleting and require implementation of measures to curb its depletion. Fossil fuels can be saved through judicious use and preservation.  Of significant importance is the reduction on reliance on fossil fuels.  This can be achieved through the use of other sources of renewable energy such as the wind and solar. Use of hybrid systems that encouraged a combination of renewable and not- renewable energy sources can help save fossil fuels for future.


References
Jaccard, M. (2006). Sustainable fossil fuels: the unusual suspect in the quest for clean and enduring energy. Cambridge University Press.
Jaccard, M. (2006). Sustainable fossil fuels: the unusual suspect in the quest for clean and enduring energy. Cambridge University Press.
Koonin, S. E. (2006). Getting serious about fossil fuels. Science, 311(5760), 435-435.
Navarro, R. M., Pena, M. A., & Fierro, J. L. G. (2007). Hydrogen production reactions from carbon feedstocks: fossil fuels and biomass. Chemical reviews, 107(10), 3952-3991.
Ozalp, N., Kogan, A., & Epstein, M. (2009). Solar decomposition of fossil fuels as an option for sustainability. international journal of hydrogen energy, 34(2), 710-720.
Soleimani, M., Bassi, A., & Margaritis, A. (2007). Biodesulfurization of refractory organic sulfur compounds in fossil fuels. Biotechnology advances, 25(6), 570-596.

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