Crude Oil as a Finite Resource Flashcards

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What is crude oil?

Crude oil is a thick, dark, smelly liquid. It is found trapped in rocks under the ground and under the sea. It is a mixture of hydrocarbons.

How was crude oil formed?

Crude oil was formed from the remains of tiny sea plants and animals called plankton. They were buried in mud on the sea floor. Over millions of years, heat and pressure turned this ancient biomass into crude oil and natural gas.

What does it mean when we say crude oil is a finite resource?

It means there is only a limited amount of crude oil. It takes millions of years to form, but we are using it up much faster, so it will eventually run out.

Is crude oil a renewable or non-renewable resource, and why?

Crude oil is non-renewable. This is because it cannot be replaced in a short time and new crude oil is not being made fast enough to match how quickly we use it.

Why is crude oil important in modern life?

Crude oil is important because its fractions are used as fuels for cars, planes, ships and heating. It is also used to make many useful materials, such as plastics, detergents and medicines.

In chemistry, what is meant by crude oil being used as a 'feedstock'?

A feedstock is a starting material used to make other chemicals. Crude oil provides hydrocarbons that are used as feedstock in the petrochemical industry to make many useful products.

Give two useful products made from crude oil that are not fuels.

Examples include plastics and detergents. Other answers could be solvents, lubricants or synthetic fibres.

Why does the fact that crude oil is finite mean we need to look for other energy sources?

Because crude oil will run out if we keep using it. We need other energy sources so that we still have energy when crude oil supplies fall and so we do not depend on it so much.

Name two alternative energy sources that can help reduce our use of crude oil.

Any two from: solar power, wind power, nuclear power, hydroelectric power or biofuels.

How can recycling plastic help conserve crude oil supplies?

Recycling plastic means we can reuse the material instead of making new plastic from crude oil. This reduces the amount of crude oil that has to be extracted and processed.

Give one environmental problem caused when we burn fuels made from crude oil.

Burning fuels from crude oil releases carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas. This contributes to global warming and climate change.

Why might it sometimes be better to use crude oil to make long-lasting products rather than burn it as fuel?

Long-lasting products, such as plastics, can be used many times or recycled. Burning crude oil as fuel uses it up at once and adds carbon dioxide to the air.

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