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Fossil fuels are the remains of plant and animal matter than have undergone changes over vast periods of time, heat and pressure beneath the earth. Nitrogen and sulfur are natural components of protein and other metabolic products in cells, so these remain in the fossil fuels, and are oxidised to various sulfur and nitrogen oxides upon combustion of the fuel.

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17y ago
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5mo ago

The carbon in fossil fuels comes from ancient plants and organisms that lived millions of years ago. These plants and organisms absorbed carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during their lifetime and stored it in their tissues. Over time, they were buried under layers of sediment and transformed into fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas through heat and pressure.

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11y ago

The plants of vast forests that once covered Earth provide the energy stored in fossil fuels. A fuel is a material that contains stored potential energy.The gasoline used in vehicles and the propane used in a gas grill are examples of fuels. Some of the fossil fuels used today were made from materials that formed hundreds of millions of years ago.

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9y ago

The carbon started in the form of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and it was separated into carbon and oxygen by photosynthesis in plants around 50-250 million years ago. Photosynthesis uses the Sun's energy. The plant material became fossilised and appears now as oil and natural gas.

Burning the carbon in the fuel in oxygen from the atmosphere re-creates carbon dioxide, and the energy used up millions of years ago is re-released as heat to drive engines and turbines.

The downside is that the carbon dioxide is a waste product that is difficult to deal with. At present most of it - millions of tons each year - is dumped into the atmosphere, and it largely sits there, leading to global warming.

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10y ago

It comes from the carbon that was in the plants. This will slowly be released from the plant after it dies.

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13y ago

oil and gas are hydrocarbons so they contain hydrogen and carbon

e.g. methane is CH4 (one carbon and four hydrogen atoms)

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Q: Where do the carbon in fossil fuels come from?
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Related questions

What is alternative fossil fuels?

Fossil fuels come from fossilied plant matter in the ground. Alternative fuels are alternatives to fossil fuels, and these are mainly carbon fuels that take their carbon from carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (as fossil fuels do) but on a carbon cycle with a much shorter term. An example is wood, which can be burned as more trees are growing and absorbing carbon dioxide.


Is carbon fossil fuel?

No, carbon is in fossil fuels.


Why are these resources referred to as fossil fuels?

"Fossil fuels" refers to fuels, such as carbon and petroleum, that are generally believed to originate as fossils.


How do biofuels lower carbon emissions?

The steady increase in carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere come from our use of fossil fuels. If we were able to stop using fossil fuels, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would stop rising. Biofuels are a partial answer, because by using biofuels you are reducing our use of fossil fuels.


Where does c in fossil fuels come from?

The C stands for Carbon. And carbon comes from decomposing materials such as plants and animals.


Where do hydrocarbons in petrol and diesel come from?

fossil fuels


Can carbon monoxide come from radiators?

No. Carbon monoxide is the product of burning fossil fuels such as coal or petroleum.


Are fossil fuels carbon-based?

Burning fossil fuels releases carbon into the atmosphere in the form of CO2. Yes.


Halogens are the basis of all fossil fuels?

Halogens are not the basis of all fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are primarily composed of hydrocarbons, which are compounds made of hydrogen and carbon. Halogens like chlorine, bromine, and fluorine are not key components of fossil fuels.


What process is the carbon in fossil fuels released into the atmosphere?

Burning of the fossil fuels releases the carbon dioxide.


When burning fossil fuels release carbon dioxide where does carbon come from?

The carbon in fossil fuels originally comes from organic matter, such as plants and algae, that absorbed carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis millions of years ago. Over time, this organic matter was buried and transformed into fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas through geological processes. When these fuels are burned, the carbon is released back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.


What Component of all living matter and fossil fuels?

Carbon is the component found in all living matter and fossil fuels.