• Question: Why are coal, oil and gas called fossil fuels?

    Asked by 10ewardh to Katie, Sadaf on 18 Jun 2013. This question was also asked by wendymoyo.
    • Photo: Katie Greenhalgh

      Katie Greenhalgh answered on 18 Jun 2013:

      Fossil fuels (oil, coal and gas) are formed by decomposition of buried dead organisms. This makes them the fossils of those organisms!!

Comments

  • Photo: couscousboy

    couscousboy commented on :

    How are conjoined twins formed?

  • Photo: princess1

    princess1 commented on :

    Peat, coal, oil and natural gas are all fossil fuels. They are called fossil fuels because they are made out of the remains of dead animals and dead plants which also formed fossils. Peat is also a fossil fuel that is much younger than the others. They contain the carbon of the original organisms but this is released when they are burnt. They are called non-renewable because when they are burnt, and the carbon is released, there is nothing usable left.

  • Photo: fredrick22

    fredrick22 commented on :

    The process takes a really, really long time so the fuels aren’t renewable. We only have about 50 years worth of natural gas and oil left, while coal is set to run out in 200 years.