Which statement provides evidence that petroleum is a non-renewable resource?
A. It takes millions of years for petroleum to form.
B. Petroleum harms the environment when it is used.
C. Petroleum is a source of energy.
D. Many products are made from petroleum.
A. It takes millions of years for petroleum to form.
The correct statement that provides evidence that petroleum is a non-renewable resource is:
A. It takes millions of years for petroleum to form.
This statement suggests that the formation process of petroleum is a slow and lengthy one, indicating that it cannot be replenished within a reasonable timeframe.
The statement that provides evidence that petroleum is a non-renewable resource is option A, which states that it takes millions of years for petroleum to form.
To understand why this is evidence, we need to know the definition of a non-renewable resource. Non-renewable resources are those that are formed over millions of years and cannot be replenished at a rate equal to or faster than their consumption.
Petroleum, also known as oil, is formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals that have been subjected to immense heat and pressure over millions of years. This process involves organic material being buried deep within the Earth's crust, and over time, it is transformed into petroleum. Given that it takes such an extensive amount of time for petroleum to form, it cannot be replaced or replenished within a human timescale.
Therefore, option A provides evidence that petroleum is a non-renewable resource because it highlights the extensive time required for its formation, indicating that it cannot be easily replenished and is limited in quantity.