The correct option is (c).
Explanation
Fossil fuels, including coal, petroleum, and natural gas, are exhaustible natural resources formed from the remains of living organisms (biomass) buried under the earth's crust. This process involves complex geochemical and biological changes over geological time scales.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: The formation of fossil fuels is an extremely slow geological process that spans millions of years. For instance, coal formation began during the Carboniferous period (about 300 million years ago).
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: The conversion of dead organisms into fossil fuels requires specific conditions, primarily high temperature and high pressure deep underground, often in the absence of air. This process cannot be easily replicated in a laboratory at room temperature.
- Statement 3 is Correct: Fossil fuels are formed through the decomposition of dead vegetation and marine organisms (such as plankton) that were buried under layers of sand and clay. Over time, these organic remains were transformed into fuels like coal and petroleum.
Key Takeaway
Fossil fuels are non-renewable resources formed by the anaerobic decomposition of buried organic matter under intense heat and pressure over millions of years.