Question

question 3 of 10
the reactants when fossil fuels are burned are shown below. what are the products of this reaction?
fossil fuel + oxygen gas →?
a. nitrogen gas + heat
b. carbon dioxide + fossil fuels
c. water + heat
d. carbon dioxide + water + heat

Explanation:

Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons. When they burn in the presence of oxygen (a combustion reaction), carbon combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide ($CO_2$), hydrogen combines with oxygen to form water ($H_2O$), and heat is released as energy. Option A is incorrect as nitrogen gas is not formed from the combustion of fossil - fuel (nitrogen in the air is mostly unreactive in this context). Option B is wrong because fossil fuels are reactants, not products. Option C is incomplete as carbon dioxide is also a major product of fossil - fuel combustion.

Answer:

D. Carbon dioxide + water + heat