Oil is the product of the decomposition of the remains of microscopic living organisms which millions of years ago inhabited the seas, lakes and river estuaries. Oil today has a multitude of applications. This is why is it essential not to waste it simply as fuel. The following visual shows how it is formed and how it is used.

The educational resource shows information about the coal: coal is a light, black substance which comes from the fossilization of vegetable matter. Coal is used as an industrial fuel, in power stations and in home heating. There are 4 types of coal: anthracite, bituminous coal, lignite and peat.You can see how they are formed in the following animation.

The educational resource shows information about the concept of chemical energy: chemical energy is what is produced in chemical reactions. An energy cell or a battery possess this type of energy. The gas burning in a cigarette lighter shows how the chemical energy contained in the gas is transformed into light and heat.

Energy from fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) comes from substances which originated from the accumulation, millons of years ago, of large quantities of remains of living beings at the bottom of lakes and other sedimentary depressions. By clicking on the following controls you can learn more about each one of these fuels.