Chemistry · General Awareness

Carbon and Fossil Fuels

1,756 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

Petroleum was formed from ________.

  1. dead remains of plants

  2. dead remains of animals

  3. coal

  4. carbon dioxide

  5. sea water
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Dead remains of animals over millions of years gave rise to petroleum.

Multiple choice

Transesterification is a process used to produce which of the following compounds?

  1. Bioethanol

  2. Biodiesel

  3. Bioethers

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

Biodiesel is made from vegetable oils and animal fats. Biodiesel can be used as a fuel for vehicles in its pure form, but it is usually used as a diesel additive to reduce levels of particulates, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons from diesel-powered vehicles. Biodiesel is produced from oils or fats using transesterification and is the most common biofuel in Europe.

Multiple choice

Consider the following facts:

  1. Since burning of biomass releases carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, it is not a good source of energy to reduce carbon dioxide emission.
  2. Majority of biomass production comes from animal sources.

Which of the above is/are true?

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Biomass derived energy holds the promise of reducing carbon dioxide emission, a significant contributor to global warming, as carbon dioxide acts as a “greenhouse” gas by trapping heat absorbed by the earth from the sun. Although the burning of biomass releases as much carbon dioxide as the burning of fossil fuels, biomass burning does not release “new carbon” into the atmosphere, which the burning of fossil fuels does. The estimated biomass production in the world is 146 billion tonnes a year, consisting of mostly wild plant growth. Wood remains the largest biomass energy source today.

Multiple choice

A few people were staying in a room. On a cold night, when there was no electricity, one of them suggested that they burn coal in the room in order to get warmth. The others immediately declined this option. What could be the reason for this?

  1. Carbon monoxide is produced.

  2. Coal is expensive.

  3. Black soot will get deposited.

  4. Carbon dioxide is produced.

  5. Coal will get over-heated.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Carbon monoxide is produced, and this can be fatal for the people in the room.