Question

Explain the process of formation of petroleum.

Answer 1

Petroleum is a naturally occurring substance found inside the earth’s surface. It is a fossil fuel. Fossil means the remains of prehistoric animals or plants that are embedded in the rocks. So, fossil fuel means the fuel generated through the remains of animals (fossils).

Complete step by step answer:
Petroleum is referred to as a fossil fuel. A fossil fuel is that fuel which is formed by the anaerobic decomposition of buried dead organisms. Similarly, petroleum is formed. It is formed when large amounts of dead organisms such as zooplankton and algal get buried underneath and are subjected to both intense heat and intense pressure.
Petroleum as it is made from dead remains, it is a naturally occurring substance of yellowish- black liquid found beneath earth’s surface.
Not only crude oil, but all liquid, gaseous and solid hydrocarbons such as methane, ethane, propane and butane exist while gases pentane and harrier hydrocarbons exist as liquids or solids. Petroleum constitutes a very large number of different hydrocarbons. Some are alkanes, cycloalkanes, aromatic hydrocarbons.
Petroleum finds its use in the following areas:
(1). Agriculture
(2). Detergent, Dyes
(3). Plastics, Paints
(4). Pharmaceutical
(5). Rubber
Some of the popular products made from petroleum are wax, ink, vitamin capsules, toilet seats, crayons, lipsticks , CDS, heart valves , guitar Strings, hair colouring. Petroleum is also used as fuel to power vehicles, heating units and machines.
Besides being useful petroleum also has some disadvantages, the extraction process and the by-products of the use of petroleum is toxic to the environment. The transportation of the petroleum through pipelines can also destroy the local environment. The process of fracking destroys the water table. Also, the use of global petroleum is also responsible for global warming due to the release of carbon into the atmosphere and increase in the temperature.

Note: Not only in day-to-day life, petroleum finds its use everywhere. Mostly, it is used as a source of energy. The raw petroleum can be used in prominent three ways such as transport, electricity generation and producing materials.