Fossil fuel
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Fossil fuels are fuels from fossils. The three most important fossils fuels are coal, petroleum, and natural gas. They contain hydrocarbons, or things that have only hydrogen and carbon in them.
[edit] Uses
Fossil fuels can be used to make electricity in a power plant. They are burned to heat water into steam, which can push a fan-like object called a turbine. When the turbine spins around, magnets in it make electricity.
People also burn coal to heat their homes, but they do not do it as much as they used to because it produces too much pollution.
By fractional distillation, or separating a mixture into different things by boiling, petroleum can be separated into smaller substances like LPG, gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel, diesel oil, etc.
In many homes, people burn natural gas in a stove to cook food. It may also be used for heating the house.
[edit] Problems
Fossil fuels produce a lot of pollution when burned. Also, they are limited resources, so they can run out.
