FOSSIL FUELS

CARBON CYCLE
Carbon is one of the building blocks of all living things. Living things both take in
and release carbon in various ways. Below is the carbon cycle, which is how
carbon travels through the world!

EFFECTS
Too much heat affects everything
around us, from agriculture to
basic heath and safety. We see
these effects through rising sea
levels and melting ice caps.

GREENHOUSE GAS
Earth's atmosphere can be compared to a
greenhouse. When the Sun hits the
atmosphere, some of that energy passes
through the atmosphere, but other energy
gets reflected. The energy that passes
through can either be absorbed by the
Earth's surface or released back into the
atmosphere. That energy can be trapped
in the atmosphere with greenhouse
gases such as carbon dioxide, methane,
and nitrous oxide. This trapping of energy
is essential for life on our planet, since it
keeps us at livable temperatures, but too
much of it can be harmful. Fossil fuels emit
a lot of greenhouse gases.
 THE IMPACT OF
FOSSIL FUELS
Even though the greenhouse gas cycle happens naturally, there is evidence that suggests that humans have
impacted it, as well. Below is a chart that shows the atmospheric carbon dioxide level by years before today.

HYDROCARBONS
Hydrocarbons are compounds made of hydrogen and carbon
molecules. Fossil fuels, such as oil and natural gas, are
hydrocarbons.. Although they use the same two molecules, they
are structure differently. The bigger the hydrocarbon, the more
carbon it has, so it will produce a bigger reaction.
COMBUSTION
Combustion happens when an element
or compound reacts to oxygen to create
heat , water, and an "oxide". There are two
types of combustion: complete and
incomplete. Complete combustion is what
happens to a candle, with everything
being being burned by the end, and the
water and carbon dioxide turning into
vapor. With incomplete, which is what
happens with fossil fuels, carbon
monoxide and carbon are also created,
which release pollution.