Which advantage does oil combustion have compared to coal combustion?

Oil combustion has cleaner burning characteristics compared to coal combustion for several reasons. When oil is burned, it generally produces fewer pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, particulates, and other harmful emissions. This is primarily due to the chemical composition of oil, which typically contains lower levels of impurities compared to coal. Because of this more efficient combustion process, oil tends to produce less smoke and soot, leading to cleaner air quality.

Additionally, oil combustion often results in lower carbon dioxide emissions per unit of energy produced, which is critical in addressing environmental concerns related to climate change. This makes oil a more appealing option for energy generation, especially in regions where air quality standards are stringent.

In contrast, the other options highlight drawbacks associated with oil or coal, such as higher emissions for coal, complexity in storage especially for coal, and increased handling costs linked with both fuels, which do not provide the cleaner combustion advantage that oil exhibits. Thus, the cleaner burning characteristics of oil make it a favorable choice over coal in many energy applications.