What If It Finishes...? - Class 5 EVS Chapter 12

The Treasure from Deep Inside the Earth

Petroleum is a thick, dark-coloured, smelly liquid that is found deep under the ground and beneath the seabed. It is also called 'crude oil'. Think of it as a hidden liquid treasure. This treasure isn't made by people in a factory. It is a fossil fuel, which means it was formed millions of years ago from the remains of tiny dead plants and animals that lived in the sea. Because it takes such an incredibly long time to form, it is known as a non-renewable resource. Once we use it all up, we cannot make more in our lifetime. This crude oil is not used directly. It is sent to a big factory called a refinery, where it is cleaned and separated into many useful products like petrol, diesel, kerosene, and even the gas we use for cooking (LPG).

How Petroleum is Made: A Million-Year Recipe

1. Step 1: Tiny Sea Creatures Die — Millions of years ago, countless tiny plants and animals living in the oceans died. Their bodies sank down and settled on the ocean floor.
2. Step 2: Covered by Layers of Mud and Sand — Over thousands of years, layers of sand, silt, and rock piled up on top of these dead remains, burying them deep under the seabed.
3. Step 3: Intense Heat and Pressure — The huge weight of the layers above created enormous pressure. At the same time, the heat from the Earth's core started 'cooking' the buried remains.
4. Step 4: Transformation into Oil and Gas — Over millions of years, this combination of heat and pressure transformed the dead organic matter into crude oil (petroleum) and natural gas. This is why we find oil trapped between layers of rock deep underground.

Many Products from One Treasure: Crude Oil

Petrol

A fuel used to run light vehicles like cars and motorcycles.

Diesel

A heavier fuel used to run large vehicles like buses, trucks, tractors, and trains.

Kerosene

Used in some households for cooking on stoves and for light in lanterns.

LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas)

The cooking gas that comes in cylinders for our kitchen stoves.

Lubricating Oil

Used to make machine parts move smoothly, like the oil you put on a bicycle chain.

Plastic, Paints, and Vaseline

Many everyday items are also made from the by-products of petroleum refining.

Important Reasons to Save Fuel

• It is Limited: Petroleum is a non-renewable resource. It takes millions of years to form, so we are using it up much faster than it is being made.
• Causes Air Pollution: Burning petrol and diesel releases smoke and harmful gases into the air. This makes the air dirty and can cause breathing problems and other diseases.
• Saves Money: The less fuel you use, the less money your family has to spend on buying it. You can use that money for other important things.
• For Our Future: If we use up all the fuel now, what will future generations use? We need to save it so that they can also live a comfortable life.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: List four different products we get from petroleum and one use for each.
  A: Step 1: Recall the different things made from crude oil in a refinery.
  Step 2: List four of them and write down how they are used in our daily lives.
  Final answer:
  Four products from petroleum are:

  1. Petrol: Used as fuel for cars and scooters.
  2. Diesel: Used as fuel for buses, trucks, and trains.
  3. LPG: Used as cooking gas in our homes.
  4. Kerosene: Used in lanterns for light and in some stoves for cooking.

• Q: Why should we use petrol and diesel carefully? Give two reasons.
  A: Step 1: Think about the nature of petrol and diesel. Are they unlimited?
  Step 2: Think about the effect of using them on our environment and health.
  Final answer: We should use petrol and diesel carefully for two main reasons:

  1. They are limited (non-renewable) resources. They took millions of years to form and will run out one day if we are not careful.
  2. Burning these fuels causes air pollution by releasing harmful smoke and gases, which is bad for our health and the environment.

• Q: Imagine oil is not found for the next 100 years. What problems would people face?
  A: Step 1: Think about all the things that run on petrol or diesel.
  Step 2: Imagine those things stopping. How would it affect our lives?
  Final answer: If oil is not found, people would face many problems:

  1. Transportation would stop: Cars, buses, trains, and aeroplanes would not be able to run. People would find it very difficult to travel.
  2. Factories might shut down: Many machines in factories run on fuel or electricity generated from fuel. This would stop the production of many goods.
  3. Farming would be affected: Tractors and water pumps that run on diesel would stop working, making it hard to grow food.

• Q: What are three simple things you can do in your daily life to save petrol and diesel?
  A: Step 1: Think about your daily travel and habits.
  Step 2: Identify actions that reduce the use of vehicles that run on fuel.
  Final answer: Three ways I can save petrol and diesel are:

  1. Walk or use a bicycle for short distances instead of asking for a car or scooter ride.
  2. Encourage my family to use public transport like buses or the metro when possible.
  3. Remind my parents to switch off the car's engine at long traffic light signals.

Frequently Asked Questions