Identify the correct sequence for the formation and use of coal.

a. plants store solar energy; the plants die; the plants are compressed; solar energy is released.

b. solar energy is released; plants die; the plants are compressed; the plants store solar energy.

c. plants die; solar energy is released; the plants store solar energy; the plants are compressed.

d. plants are compressed; the plants die; the plants store solar energy; solar energy is released.

the answer is a.

The correct answer is - A. Plants store solar energy; the plants die; the plants are compressed; solar energy is released;

The plants use the solar energy for their functioning, thus they are one of the biggest natural storage of it. The plants also use the CO2 for the process of photosynthesis that is driven by the solar energy. When the plants die, the things inside them are stored in them, and if they are quickly covered they will remain stored and not get back into the atmosphere. The plants than are compressed, and over time that leads to a change in their composition. After millions of years had passed, the solar energy and CO2 had turned into coal. The coal is heavily used by the humans in the past few centuries, and with its burning the solar energy and the CO2 are released back into the atmosphere from which they came millions of years ago.