Hydrocarbon
Candlefocus EditorCrude oil and natural gas are examples of hydrocarbons in which the molecules have combined together under pressure and have been trapped in sediments, or reservoirs, deep within the earth. To create the sought-after petroleum products, the molecules in crude oil and natural gas are broken down and then separated into different categories, such as gasoline and diesel. Through refinement processes involving distillation and cracking, these products can be removed from the crude oil and natural gas.
Since the Industrial Revolution, the use of hydrocarbons to create energy has greatly increased, resulting in a significant increase in air pollution, acid rain and greenhouse effect. These environmental issues have, in turn, caused global temperatures to rise, leading to climate change. Moreover, finding and transporting hydrocarbon fuel sources is expensive and has caused a scarcity in global resources. Despite these issues, hydrocarbons continue to be a dominant source of energy for most of the world’s population.
The demand for hydrocarbon energy sources is expected to remain high for the foreseeable future, and although alternative energy sources may eventually gain a larger share of the global energy market, hydrocarbons are likely to remain an important source of fuel. Efforts are being made to reduce the global reliance on hydrocarbons by increasing investment in alternative energy sources and increasing efficiency in oil and gas extraction methods. However, the use of hydrocarbons is deeply entrenched in the global economy, and it may take many years before the world can move away from them completely.