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The value to society of the fossil fuels
The role that fossil fuels, obtained from a complex mixture of hydrocarbons within crude oil, play in society is vital for both industrial and domestic purposes. Fossil fuels themselves are valuable, as non-renewable sources, meaning they are depleted after use and irreplaceable. ... The production of fossil fuels, such as coal, natural gas and oil, is a lengthy one involving stages of fractional distillation, cracking, isomerisation and reformation, but the consequent uses of the products have varied functions and industrial demand. ... Many of these products can be directly used as feedstock, for fuels or for the processing of petrochemicals. ... Kerosene is used for jet fuels and domestic heating. ... Branched hydrocarbons, needed for petrol, are converted from unbranched hydrocarbons, highlighting the importance of this step in producing useful substances from fossil fuels. ... The economical costs, their varied uses, as well as the time and endurance required, emphasise the preciousness of the fossil fuels acquired, and their value to society. ... The fuels produced from these hydrocarbons are oxidised easily, ignite quickly and maintain burning without further intervention, due to their volatile and gaseous nature. Alkanes produced through cracking are incredibly useful as fuels and in industry, transport and domestically. ... Unlike with fuels, where the issue has been raised about optional sources for energy, it is a harder task to find alternative sources for the polymers in synthetic fibres. It can therefore be concluded that, due to environmentally friendly and obtainable alternatives for fuels, that the use of hydrocarbons in plastic production and in processing petrochemicals shows better preservation of restricted sources of fossil fuels.
Fossil fuels play an important role in providing society, particularly industry, with raw materials and energy through fuel. ... Reserves of fossil fuels are hastily approaching the zero mark, and due to the formation of fossil fuels, from organic matter (such as plant and animal remains) over millions of years buried under sedimentary rock, time constraints leave society with the need for fossil fuels but no reserves from which to obtain them from. ... There is also the question regarding the environmentally damaging nature of fossil fuels: oil rig accidents effect wildlife and the burning of fossil fuels contribute to the “Greenhouse Effect” via releasing poisonous gases.
Approximate Word count = 1747
Approximate Pages = 7
(250 words per page double spaced)
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