Why are fossil fuels considered nonrenewable resources?

• A. They are constantly produced by living plants and animals today.
• B. They can be easily regenerated through artificial processes in a few years.
• C. They are formed over millions of years from the remains of ancient organisms and cannot be replenished on a human timescale.
• D. They are made from minerals that are abundant in Earth's crust.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the definition of nonrenewable resources: Nonrenewable resources are those that cannot be replenished or regenerated on a human timescale, meaning they take millions of years to form and are consumed much faster than they are produced.
2. Examine the origin of fossil fuels: Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, are formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals that were buried under layers of sediment and subjected to heat and pressure over millions of years.
3. Compare fossil fuel formation to renewable resources: Renewable resources, like solar energy or wind power, are replenished naturally and continuously, whereas fossil fuels require geological processes that span millions of years, making them nonrenewable.
4. Evaluate the incorrect options: Fossil fuels are not produced by living plants and animals today, nor can they be regenerated artificially in a few years. Additionally, they are not made from minerals abundant in Earth's crust; they are organic in origin.
5. Conclude why fossil fuels are nonrenewable: Fossil fuels are considered nonrenewable because their formation process is extremely slow and cannot keep up with the rate at which humans consume them, making them unsustainable on a human timescale.