The correct option is (c).
Explanation
Fossil fuels are natural energy sources formed from the organic remains of prehistoric plants and animals that were buried under layers of sediment and subjected to intense heat and pressure over millions of years.
Statement 1 is Correct.
Fossil fuels are formed from the dead remains of living organisms (plants and animals) buried deep inside the earth millions of years ago. The high temperature and high pressure inside the earth converted these dead remains into fossil fuels.
Statement 2 is Incorrect.
Coal, petroleum, and natural gas are all classified as fossil fuels. Natural gas is typically found in association with petroleum deposits or in separate reservoirs and originates from the same geological process of organic decomposition.
Statement 3 is Correct.
Fossil fuels are classified as exhaustible natural resources. Their formation is a slow geological process taking millions of years, while their consumption rate is significantly faster. Once existing reserves are depleted, they cannot be replenished within a human timescale.
Key Takeaway:
Fossil fuels include coal, petroleum, and natural gas. They are exhaustible, non-renewable resources formed by the geological compression of organic matter.