Which fossil fuel is a complex mixture of several solid, liquid, and gaseous hydrocarbons mixed with water, salt and earth particles?

Correct option is B

The correct answer is (b) Crude oil petroleum.
· Crude oil, also known as petroleum, is a complex mixture composed of various hydrocarbons in solid, liquid, and gaseous forms, along with water, salts, and earth particles.
· It is found in underground reservoirs and extracted through drilling processes.
· Crude oil consists of aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, and other compounds like sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen.
· The refining process involves fractional distillation, where crude oil is separated into different components such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and other products based on boiling points.
· The presence of impurities like water and salts is addressed during the initial stages of refining (desalting and dehydration).
· Crude oil serves as a primary source for various fuels and petrochemical products.
· Crude oil is often called "black gold" due to its economic importance.
Additional Knowledge:
· Coal: Coal is a solid fossil fuel primarily composed of carbon, with impurities like sulfur and minerals. It is not a complex mixture of hydrocarbons like crude oil.
· LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas): This is a mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons, mainly propane and butane. It is derived from crude oil or natural gas but does not contain the complex mixture of solids and liquids found in crude oil.
· Natural gas: This is a gaseous fossil fuel composed mainly of methane (CH₄) and small amounts of other hydrocarbons. It is simpler compared to the complex mixture in crude oil.