Name _________________________ Teacher _________________ Date __________
Activity 4.2: Assessing Fossil Fuels
Worksheet
Level 4 responses are in bold blue italics below. Remember Level 4 is the eventual learning
goal; we do not expect most, possibly any, students to produce these responses at this point in
the unit. We also have suggestions based on our research about likely Level 2 and Level 3
responses. This worksheet has “assessing” in the title because we do NOT recommend giving
your students a grade based on the scientific accuracy of their responses at this point in the
unit. It is designed to be used as a tool for formative assessment.
Gasoline is a fossil fuel commonly used in transportation.
1. Think about the following materials: gasoline, water, carbon dioxide, cellulose and
ethanol. Put the materials into two groups. Describe the materials in each group, and what they
have in common.
Energy-rich bonds
No energy-rich bonds
Materials in this group:
Materials in this group:
Gasoline C8H18
Water H2O
Ethanol C2H6O
Carbon dioxide CO2
Glucose C6H12O6
The materials in this group are similar
because:
The materials in this group are similar
because:
They have C-C and C-H bonds.
They store chemical energy that humans
can use.
They do not have C-C and C-H bonds.
They do not store chemical energy that
humans can use.
2. Is gasoline organic or inorganic? Explain why or why not. Which material is it most similar to?
Level 4: Gasoline is organic because it has C-C and C-H bonds. It is the most similar to
glucose in terms of atoms and bonds.
Level 3 and Level 2 students might suggest that gasoline is inorganic because it is not a living
thing, and that it is most similar to water because they are both liquids.
3. What are your ideas about where the carbon atoms in gasoline come from? Where were
those atoms before they were in gasoline?
Level 4 students will suggest that carbon atoms in gasoline come from the carbon atoms
in plant and animal biomass that was on the earth hundreds of millions of years ago.
Over time, the organic material from the plants was exposed to heat and pressure in the
ground, where it was turned into crude oil. This crude oil is refined and turned into
gasoline that we use to power cars.
Level 3 students may suggest that the carbon atoms must have come from somewhere, but that
Human Energy Systems Unit, Activity 4.2
Carbon: Transformation in Matter and Energy
Environmental Literacy Project
Michigan State University
they aren’t sure where.
Level 2 students may suggest that the carbon atoms were created when the gasoline was
created.
4. What are your ideas about where the energy for the C-C and C-H bonds in gasoline comes
from? What form was the energy in before it was chemical energy?
Level 4 students will suggest that light energy from the sun was trapped as chemical
energy in the biomass of plants, animals, and decomposers millions of years ago. This
chemical energy was conserved in the ground as the biomass was exposed to heat and
pressure over time. So, before it was chemical energy in the gasoline, it was chemical
energy in the crude oil. Before that, it was chemical energy in plants and animals. Before
that, it was light energy from the sun.
Level 3 students may suggest that the energy must have come from somewhere, but that they
are not sure where (they may suggest that energy cannot be created or destroyed).
Level 2 students may suggest that the energy was created when the gasoline was created.
2