FORMATION OF FOSSIL

FUELS
for Earth Science/ Grade 11
Quarter 1 / Week 4

NegOr_Q1_EarthScience11_SLKWeek4_v2
 FOREWORD

This Self-Learning Kit is prepared for the Senior High School

students to understand the concept of how fossil fuels are formed.
Also, this will discuss the origin of the important fossil fuels including
coal, oil, and natural gas.

It is hoped that by learning the formation of fossil fuels, the

learners will be able to understand why there is a need to
conserve these non-renewable resources.

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OBJECTIVES

At the end of the lesson, the learners should be able to:

K - differentiate the three types of fossil fuels;

S - describe how fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas) are formed;
and
A - cite ways on how to conserve fossil fuels.

LEARNING COMPETENCY

Describe how fossil fuels are formed (S11ES-Id-10)

I. WHAT HAPPENED
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 PRE-ACTIVITY/PRE-TEST

Analyze the pictures below and answer the questions that

follow. Write the answers in your notebook.

Source: https://serc.carleton.edu/details/images/65244.html

Source: https://serc.carleton.edu/details/images/65244.html

Questions:
1. What are the pictures all about?
2. Differentiate the formation of coal from that of petroleum
and natural gas.
3. What do you think is the importance of coal, petroleum,
and natural gas?

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 II. WHAT I NEED TO KNOW

DISCUSSION

Fossil fuels are natural sources of fuel that formed through

geological processes. They have been used as sources of heat
and medicine by early civilizations. They remain as primary
sources of energy until today.

Fossil fuels are deposits of organisms (biomass) that are primarily

used for energy generation. They are formed millions of years
ago. They form when the remains of organisms are buried under
layers of sediments immediately after they perished.

Fossil fuels were able to form because the remains of the

different organisms experienced only little to partial
decomposition. Fully decomposed remains turn to humus
instead.

As these sediments build up, heat and pressure increase

prompting changes in the biomass. Finally, the remains convert
to the final form of fossil fuels.

Coal, crude oil, and natural gas are different types of fossil
fuels. Coal is a rock-like material made from plant matter that
lived in swampy areas and is widely used as a fuel. Crude oil is
unrefined petroleum extracted from the underground reservoirs.
It can be treated to form other products such as gasoline,
plastics, and tar. Natural gas is a naturally occurring
hydrocarbon gas made up of methane and other alkanes such
as butane and propane. Natural gas can be used as fuel for
cooking and generating electricity. Crude oil and natural gas
are from marine organisms.

Types and Formation of Coal

• Peat is an accumulation of plant organic materials that

only partially decomposed due to exposure to water and
carbon dioxide. It is recognizable due to the evidence of

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 plant remains and water. Peat is quite unconventional to use
because it needs to be dried out and it produces large
amounts of smoke.
• Lignite is formed when increased pressure from sediments
transforms peat. It still has traces of plant remains. It is
abundant but used only when more efficient fuels are
unavailable.
• Bituminous forms when even more pressure is applied to
lignite. No trace of plant materials can be observed in this
stage. It is the most abundant form of coal and a major
source of heat energy.
• Anthracite is the last stage of coal formation. It has the
hardest consistency among the stages of coal. This form
resulted from extreme pressure and high temperature on the
layers of sediments. Anthracite burns with a short flame and
only produces a little smoke.

Crude Oil Formation

First Stage
• Marine plants and animals gather energy from the sun and
their food to increase the organic materials in their bodies.
• When they perish, their bodies sink under the ocean.

Second Stage
• The remains of the marine organisms are buried under
sediments as time passes.

Third Stage
• More sediments bury the remains of marine plants and
animals.
• These sediments turn into sedimentary rock after millions of
years.

Fourth Stage
• The heat and pressure from the sedimentary rock slowly turn
the plant and animal matter into crude oil.

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• Some of the crude oil migrate in porous rocks while others
remain trapped in impermeable rock reservoirs.

After crude oil is extracted, it undergoes different processes of

refining. The most widely used method to process crude oil
is fractional distillation. Crude oil produces different oil-based
products by being heated and vaporized at different
temperatures. Gas, gasoline, kerosene, diesel oil, fuel oil, tar,
and paraffin wax are all produced when crude oil undergoes
fractional distillation. Processing of crude oil also yields by-
products such as petroleum jelly, fertilizers, vitamin
capsules, and others. Crude oil is the most commonly used
source of energy in the world.

Natural Gas Formation

Stage 1
• Microscopic plants and animals from the ocean die and sink
to the bottom of the ocean. Sediments, plants, and bacteria
form layers above these organisms.

Stage 2
• Heat and pressure increase as the remains of these
organisms are buried deeper by sediments. A biomass made
from plant materials and exposed to greater heat produces
natural gas.

Stage 3
• The natural gas migrates through the pores in the rocks.
Some escape to the Earth’s surface while others are caught
in impermeable rocks and clays and become trapped
deposits of natural gas.

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Problems with Fossil Fuels

Oil producing and exporting countries are aware that the fossil
fuel supply may not last long. Fossil fuels are non-
renewable and finite resources because of the extensive
process of their formation. Several problems are faced due to
the usage of fossil fuels.

• Dependence on fossil fuels may cause problems in the long

run if the supply is inadequate.
• Extraction of fossil fuels has also caused different
environmental problems like damaged land.
• Coal mining disturbs the ecosystem of terrestrial lands.
• The extraction of crude oil and natural gas requires structures
that usually affect the marine locations.
• Workers in coal mines and crude oil refineries experience
health problems such as lung diseases.
• The use of fossil fuels as a source of energy has produced
great amounts of gaseous waste, such as carbon dioxide,
methane, and nitrous oxide, have contributed to global
warming.
• Transportation of crude oil can lead to oil spills that
negatively affect marine life.
• Fossil fuels are continually used because of their low cost.

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 PERFORMANCE TASK

A. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Fossil Fuels.

Copy and fill in the table below. Do this in your notebook.

Fossil Fuels Advantages Disadvantages

Coal

crude oil

natural gas

B. Answer the questions below in your notebook.

1. Why do you think some places have abundance of fossil fuel
supply while others have less or almost no supply of fossil fuel?
What does this imply about the areas with a large supply of fossil
fuels? How about for areas with no fossil fuel reserve?

2. Fossil fuels will face a shortage of supply in the next 50 years.

How can this affect the industries that depend on fossil fuels?
How can we respond to this crisis?

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Rubric for Essay:

Criteria 1 2 3 4 Score
The essay poorly The essay is The essay is The essay is
addresses topic focused on focused on the focused,
Focus/ and includes topic and topic and purposeful, and
Main Point irrelevant ideas includes few includes reflects clear
loosely related relevant ideas insight and
ideas ideas
Provides little or Supports main Supports main Persuasively
no support for point with some point with supports main
Support the main point underdevelope developed point with well
d reasons and/ reasons and/or developed
or examples examples reasons and/or
examples
Organizati Little or no Some Organizes ideas Effectively
on & organization of organization of to build an organizes ideas
Format ideas to build an ideas to build argument to build a
argument an argument logical,
(Paragraphs, coherent
Transitions) argument
Little or no use of Some use of Appropriate use Effective and
Language elements of style elements of of elements of creative use of
Use, Style style style elements of
Many errors in
& style to
grammar, Contains Uses correct
Conventio enhance
spelling, and frequent errors grammar,
ns meaning
punctuation, in grammar, spelling, and
makes reader’s spelling, and punctuation Uses correct
(Sentence
structure, comprehension punctuation with few errors grammar,
word choice, difficult spelling,
grammar, punctuation
spelling,
throughout with
punctuation)
very few errors

No Very little Sufficient expe- Distinctive ex-

experimentation experimentatio rimentation with perimentation
nor n to enhance language and with language
Originality enhancement of concepts usage to and usage to
(Expression concepts enhance enhance
of the Does not concepts concepts
theme in a No adherence to exhibit
creative the theme creativity Applies basic Applies higher
way) creative skills to order thinking
relay ideas and creative
skills to relay
complex ideas

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 III. WHAT I HAVE LEARNED

I. Multiple Choice: In your notebook, write the letter of the

correct answer.

1. Which of the following is a fossil fuel?

a. Natural gas c. Hydrogen
b. Nuclear d. All of the above

2. Where was coal formed from?

a. Marine animals c. Water
b. Plants d. Rocks

3. To which of the ff. does oil formed from?

a. Marine animals c. Petrol
b. Sedimentary rocks d. Rock

4. Which is a renewable fuel?

a. Natural gas c. Wood
b. Gasoline d. Coal

5. How is crude oil made from dead organisms?

a. Buried-compressed-heated
b. Heated-compressed
c. Buried-heated-compressed
d. Eaten by larger organisms

6. How is crude oil extracted from the earth’s crust? By ____

a. drilling b. mining c. fracking d. digging

7. Which of these processes absorbs carbon dioxide from the

environment?
a. Respiration c. Photosynthesis
b. Combustion d. Evaporation

8. Which of these processes release carbon dioxide into the

air?

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 a. Dissolving in sea water
b. Combustion of fossil fuels
c. Plants being eaten by animals
d. All of the above

9. Which of these can be obtained from crude oil?

a. Diesel b. Hydrogen c. Wood d. Carbon

10. What is the best way to conserve fossil fuels?

a. Do not use them
b. Stop mining
c. Extract only fuels from the sea
d. Walking and biking instead of riding a car

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 References

“Fossil Fuel Formation”. Serc.carleton.edu. Last Modified: Sep 30,

2015. https://serc.carleton.edu/details/images/65244.html.

Kate, M.. “How Do Fossil Fuels Form’’. Published March 20, 2016.
https://socratic.org/questions/how-do-fossil-fuels-form.

“How Coal Was Formed.” Pinterest.com.

https://www.google.com/search?q=how+coal+was+formed
&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=AdFn4MEJ_e5b1M%252C_
Nvm5u9dx55yM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_kQLsWlLP7kV9CA9
QcziDt60lAgAhA&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiRguiE_cvqAhWTad4K
HdlEA2UQ_h0wAnoECAQQCA&biw=1366&bih=608#imgrc=0
qau1Wn0r 5e7EM. Accessed July 10, 2020.

“Petroleum and Natural Gas Formation.” Pinterest.com.

https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/289778557248217153/.
Accessed July 10, 2020.

quipperschool.com.ph

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 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF NEGROS ORIENTAL

SENEN PRISCILLO P. PAULIN, CESO V

Schools Division Superintendent

JOELYZA M. ARCILLA EdD

OIC - Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

MARCELO K. PALISPIS EdD

OIC - Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

NILITA L. RAGAY EdD

OIC - Assistant Schools Division Superintendent / CID Chief

ROSELA R. ABIERA
Education Program Supervisor – (LRMS)

ARNOLD R. JUNGCO
PSDS – Division Science Coordinator

MARICEL S. RASID
Librarian II (LRMDS)

ELMAR L. CABRERA
PDO II (LRMDS)
JIMMA C. PORSUELO
Writer

ZENLI ROSE B. MONGCUPA

Lay-out Artist
_________________________________
ALPHA QA TEAM
LIEZEL A. AGOR
MARY JOYCEN A. ALAM-ALAM
EUFRATES G. ANSOK
JOAN Y. BUBULI
MA. OFELIA BUSCATO
LIELIN A. DE LA ZERNA
DEXTER D. PAIRA
THOMAS JOGIE U. TOLEDO
BETA QA TEAM
ZENAIDA A. ACADEMIA LIEZEL A. BESAS
DORIN FAYE D. CADAYDAY LIELIN A. DE LA ZERNA
MERCY G. DAGOY PETER PAUL A. PATRON
RANJEL D. ESTIMAR THOMAS JOGIE U. TOLEDO
MARIA SALOME B. GOMEZ JOAN Y. VALENCIA
JUSTIN PAUL ARSENIO C. KINAMOT
DISCLAIMER
The information, activities and assessments used in this material are designed to provide
accessible learning modality to the teachers and learners of the Division of Negros Oriental. The
ZENAIDA
contents of this module are carefully A. ACADEMIA
researched, chosen, and evaluated to comply with the set
learning competencies. The DORIN
writers FAYE
and D. CADAYDAY
evaluator were clearly instructed to give credits to
information and illustrations used MERCY G. DAGOY
to substantiate this material. All content is subject to copyright
and may not be reproduced in any RANJEL D. ESTIMAR
form without expressed written consent from the division.
MARIA SALOME B. GOMEZ
JUSTIN PAUL KINAMOT
ARJIE T. PALUMPA
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SYNOPSIS
Fossil fuels are natural sources of fuel that
formed through geological processes. These
fuels are deposits of organisms (biomass) that
are primarily used for energy generation.
Coal, crude oil (petroleum), and natural
gas are the different types of fossil fuels. Coal is a
rock-like material made from plant matter that
lived in swampy areas and is widely used as fuel.
It has four (4) types, namely peat, lignite,
bituminous, and anthracite that differ in their
features.
Crude oil is unrefined petroleum extracted
from the underground reservoirs while natural
gas is a naturally occurring hydrocarbon gas
made up of methane and other alkanes such as
butane and propane.
Fossil fuels are non-renewable and finite
resources because of the extensive process of
their formation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jimma C. Porsuelo, MAED-General Science

Mrs. Jimma C. Porsuelo obtained her BSEd - General Science in
Philippine Normal University - Visayas, with an Academic
Commendation, in 2008. She finished Master of Arts in Education major
in General Science at Central Philippines State University - San Carlos
City (2018). Currently, she is a SHS teacher at JBCMHS - Main Campus
handling science and research subjects. She used to be a Junior High
School Science teacher in the same school from SY 2011-2016 where
she was a winning science quiz bee coach for grade 8 category.
She has also served at St. Joseph College of Canlaon, Inc. in
the year 2009-2010 where she handled Biology for secondary and
college students.
As a senior science teacher, she is the science coordinator of
their school, a STEM adviser, and a research teacher.

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