Chemistry · General Awareness

Carbon and Fossil Fuels

1,898 Questions

Review fundamental concepts regarding carbon compounds, coal distillation, and fossil fuel formation. This segment covers the chemical properties and industrial applications of natural gas and crude oil. Practicing these questions will strengthen your chemistry foundation for general science sections.

Coal distillationPetroleum formationProperties of crude oilNatural gas applications

Carbon and Fossil Fuels Questions

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of spontaneous combustion?

  1. The burning of wax in a candle

  2. The burning of coal dust in coal mines

  3. The burning of cooking gas in a gas stove

  4. The exploding of crackers during festivals

  5. The burning of kerosene oil in a kerosene stove
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option as the burning of coal dust in coal mines is an example of spontaneous combustion. Coal dust burns at room temperature inside the cold mines, spontaneously.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are false?

a. The materials that produce light energy on burning in air are called fuels. b. When magnesium is heated in air, it catches fire and burns with a dazzling white flame. c. On heating, charcoal burns to produce a large amount of heat and a dull red light.

  1. Only a

  2. Only a and b

  3. Only b

  4. Only b and c

  5. Only c
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option as this statement is false. The materials that produce heat energy on burning in air are called fuels.

Multiple choice

Which of the following methods cannot be used to extinguish fire?

a. By removing the combustibe substances b. By removing the heat c. By increasing the supply of air to the burning substances

  1. Only a

  2. Only a and b

  3. Only b

  4. Only b and c

  5. Only c
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option as fire cannot be extinguished by increasing the supply of air to the burning substances. It can be extinguished by cutting off the supply of air to the burning substances.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a characteristic of an ideal fuel?

  1. It burns easily in air at a moderate rate.

  2. It has a low calorific value.

  3. It has a proper ignition temperature.

  4. It neither produces any harmful gases nor leaves any residue after burning.

  5. It is cheap, readily available and easy to transport.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option as this is not a characteristic of an ideal fuel. An ideal fuel should have high calorific value so that it can produce a large amount of heat.

Multiple choice

If the oxygen supply is sufficient, then the fuel burns completely, producing mainly a blue flame. In which of the following cases is a blue flame produced?

a. The burning of LPG in a kitchen gas stove b. The burning of kerosene in a lamp c. The burning of a wax candle

  1. Only a

  2. Only a and b

  3. Only b

  4. Only b and c

  5. Only c
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option as in the burning of LPG in a kitchen gas stove, a blue flame is produced. The blue flame is produced when there is a complete combustion of LPG.

Multiple choice

Pyrolysis oil is known as

  1. bio oil

  2. bio diesel

  3. heating oil

  4. alternative fossil fuel

  5. both (3) and (4)

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This option is correct because pyrolysis oil is also known as bio crude or boi oil. It is extracted by bio mass to liquid technology of destructive distillation from dried bio mass in the reactor at the temperature of about 500oC. It contains a high amount of hydrocarbon.

Multiple choice

Asphalt is also known as

  1. bitumen

  2. paraffin oil

  3. vegetable oil

  4. pyrolysis oil

  5. algae fuels
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This option is correct because asphalt is also known as bitumen. It is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a type of coal?

  1. Lignite

  2. Anthracite

  3. Peat

  4. Gneiss
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Gneiss is not a type of coal - it is a metamorphic rock formed from high-grade metamorphism of igneous or sedimentary rocks. Lignite, Anthracite, and Peat are all types or stages of coal formation, with Peat being the lowest grade, Lignite being brown coal, and Anthracite being the highest grade hard coal.

Multiple choice

Consider the following facts:

  1. Jatropha oil is carbon neutral.
  2. It needs to be refined before being used in diesel generators.
  3. It can grow in dry, non-agricultural lands.

Which of the above are true?

  1. 1 and 2

  2. 2 and 3

  3. 1 and 3

  4. All three
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Jatropha has the potential to provide economic benefits at the local level since under suitable management it has the potential to grow in dry marginal non-agricultural lands, thereby allowing villagers and farmers to leverage non-farm land for income generation. Jatropha oil can be used directly after extraction (i.e. without refining) in diesel generators and engines.Jatropha oil is carbon-neutral, large-scale production will improve the country's carbon emissions profile.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a supporter of combustion?

  1. Carbon dioxide

  2. Oxygen

  3. Water vapours

  4. Sand
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

A supporter of combustion is a substance that enables or supports burning. Oxygen is essential for combustion as it reacts with fuel during the burning process. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is actually used to extinguish fires by displacing oxygen. Water vapor and sand do not support combustion.

Multiple choice

Which of the following has the lowest ignition temperature?

  1. Charcoal

  2. Cooking oil

  3. Kerosene oil

  4. Wood

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Kerosene oil has the lowest ignition temperature among the options - it vaporizes easily and catches fire at relatively low temperatures (approximately 210°C). Wood requires much higher temperatures (around 300°C), charcoal needs even higher heat, and cooking oil has a higher flash point (around 300-350°C) than kerosene. The ease of vaporization affects ignition temperature.