Fossil fuels are formed under high temperature and pressure over long times.

Fossil fuels are formed under high temperature and pressure over long times.

• A. Rapid burial in shallow water
• B. High temperature and pressure over long times
• C. Immediate decomposition by bacteria
• D. Formation from minerals

Answer: (B)

Fossil fuels come from ancient organic matter that gets buried under sediments and subjected to heat and pressure for long geologic times. The combination of time and increasing temperature causes chemical changes that break down the original material and reassemble it into coal and hydrocarbons (oil and natural gas). If material only gets buried quickly or stays at low heat, it won’t turn into fuels. Rapid bacterial decay would destroy the organic matter, and minerals aren’t capable of becoming the organic, carbon-rich fuels.

Fossil fuels come from ancient organic matter that gets buried under sediments and subjected to heat and pressure for long geologic times. The combination of time and increasing temperature causes chemical changes that break down the original material and reassemble it into coal and hydrocarbons (oil and natural gas). If material only gets buried quickly or stays at low heat, it won’t turn into fuels. Rapid bacterial decay would destroy the organic matter, and minerals aren’t capable of becoming the organic, carbon-rich fuels.