Modern life depends on hydrocarbons from crude oil. Hydrocarbon fuels such as petrol, diesel and kerosene power cars, lorries, ships and aeroplanes. Natural gas is burned for heating and cooking and in power stations to generate electricity. Crude oil is also the source of materials such as plastics, lubricants, solvents and detergents. Most of the plastic objects around us began as hydrocarbons from crude oil.
Crude oil takes millions of years to form, but we are using it much faster than it forms. This makes it a finite resource, also called a non-renewable resource. One day the reserves that can be reached will run out, and the price will rise as it becomes harder to find.
Because of this, scientists and governments look for alternative sources of energy, such as biofuels, hydrogen and electricity from renewable sources, to replace some hydrocarbon fuels. We can also make the oil last longer by using less fuel and by recycling plastics, so we recycle what we can. Burning hydrocarbon fuels also releases carbon dioxide, which is another reason to reduce how much we use.