Question detail
Which student statement correctly explains why crude oil is not renewable on exam timescales?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Carbon compounds as fuels and feedstock
Question
- A. It can be replaced as soon as petrol is burned
- B. It forms so slowly that used crude oil is not replaced quickly
- C. It becomes unlimited after fractional distillation
- D. It is renewable because it contains hydrocarbons
Answer
The correct option is It forms so slowly that used crude oil is not replaced quickly. Crude oil is not renewable on exam timescales because formation takes millions of years, so supplies used now are not replaced quickly.
Explanation
The correct option is It forms so slowly that used crude oil is not replaced quickly. The correct answer distinguishes finite from renewable. Fractional distillation separates crude oil into useful fractions but does not create more crude oil. Being a hydrocarbon mixture also does not make the resource renewable. The key point is that crude oil formation is extremely slow compared with human demand.
Common mistake
Finite resource misconception
Students think crude oil can be replenished quickly because it is a liquid that can be pumped out of the ground.
Explain that crude oil is a finite resource formed over millions of years from ancient biomass and cannot be replenished on a human timescale.
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