Which statement provides evidence that petroleum is a nonrenewable resources?
A. Petroleum is a source of energy
B. Petroleum harms the environment when it is used
C. Many products are made from petroleum
D. It takes millions of years for petroleum
to form
D. It takes millions of years for petroleum to form.
To determine which statement provides evidence that petroleum is a nonrenewable resource, we need to analyze the characteristics of petroleum and consider the concept of renewable and nonrenewable resources.
Petroleum is derived from fossilized organic materials such as plants and marine organisms that lived millions of years ago. With this information, let's examine each statement:
A. "Petroleum is a source of energy."
This statement is true, but it does not provide evidence that petroleum is a nonrenewable resource. Both renewable and nonrenewable resources can be sources of energy.
B. "Petroleum harms the environment when it is used."
While it is true that the use of petroleum can have negative environmental impacts, this statement also does not directly indicate whether petroleum is renewable or nonrenewable.
C. "Many products are made from petroleum."
This statement is correct, but it does not provide evidence regarding the renewable or nonrenewable nature of petroleum. Both types of resources can be utilized to make various products.
D. "It takes millions of years for petroleum to form."
This statement provides evidence that petroleum is a nonrenewable resource. The formation of petroleum requires an extremely long period, on the order of millions of years. This indicates that once petroleum is extracted and consumed, it cannot be replenished within a human timescale.
Therefore, the correct answer is D. "It takes millions of years for petroleum to form" as it provides evidence that petroleum is a nonrenewable resource.