The correct option is (b).
Explanation
Petroleum, also known as crude oil, is a fossil fuel generated through geological processes acting on organic matter over millions of years. The specific origin of the organic matter determines the type of fossil fuel formed (e.g., coal vs. petroleum).
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Incorrect: The remains of vegetation on land (such as trees, ferns, and other plants) primarily lead to the formation of coal. When terrestrial forests were buried under soil and subjected to heat and pressure over millions of years, they converted into coal, not petroleum.
- Statement 2 is Correct: Petroleum is formed from organisms living in the sea (marine organisms), such as plankton and algae. As these organisms died, their bodies settled at the bottom of the sea and were covered with layers of sand and clay. Over millions of years, the absence of air, high temperature, and high pressure transformed these dead organisms into petroleum and natural gas.
Key Takeaway:
The primary distinction in fossil fuel origin is that coal is formed from terrestrial (land) vegetation, whereas petroleum is formed from marine (sea) organisms.