Final answer:
The correct student flashcard about petroleum is from Student B, who accurately describes it as an energy-rich liquid fossil fuel used for gasoline and notes the associated environmental risks.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct flashcard among the options provided by students discussing the characteristics and effects of petroleum is Student B's. This option correctly identifies petroleum as an energy-rich fossil fuel used to make gasoline. It acknowledges that environmental damage can occur if petroleum spills or is burned, which includes the release of greenhouse gases and the potential for water and soil contamination.
Petroleum is indeed a liquid fossil fuel and is the primary component in gasoline. It's commonly found alongside natural gas in underground reservoirs and extracted through drilling. Petroleum is processed into various products including gasoline, diesel, petrochemicals for plastics, and other synthetic compounds. Its use has profound implications for the environment, particularly due to the risks of oil spills, emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutants during combustion, and the ecological impact of extracting and transporting the fuel.