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 statements is incorrect?

  1. Gasoline or petrol is obtained between 40-120 oC during fractional distillation of crude oil.

  2. Nylon 11 is a third generation petrochemical.

  3. In fractional distillation of petroleum, higher boiling fractions condense first; while the lower boiling fractions turn by turn.

  4. Naphthalene is used as solvent and in dry cleaning.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Nylon 11 is a polyamide bioplastic derived from vegetable oil.

Multiple choice

Reforming is a process used for

  1. making synthetic petrol

  2. making low boiling hydrocarbons of lower molecular mass

  3. improving antiknock characteristics of fuel

  4. producing power alcohol
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Reforming is a process of bringing about structural modifications in the component of straight-run gasoline for improving its antiknock properties.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is incorrectly matched?

  1. Doctor's process: Industrial chemical process for removing sulphur compounds from sour gasoline

  2. Cottrell's process: Process of obtaining petroleum ether from crude oil

  3. Dubb's process: Advanced thermal cracking process

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Cottrell's process is the process of freeing oil from water by allowing the crude to flow between two highly charged electrodes.

Multiple choice

Identify the incorrect statement.

  1. Mixed base type crude is generally rich in semi-solid waxes.

  2. Petroleum ether is used as solvent.

  3. In fractional distillation of petroleum, lower boiling fractions condense first.

  4. In fractional distillation of petroleum, diesel oil fraction is obtained between 180-250 oC.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

In fractional distillation of petroleum, higher boiling fractions condense first; while the lower boiling fractions turn by turn.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is FALSE about the process of 'cracking' in the petrochemical industry?

  1. It requires high temperature.

  2. It converts small hydrocarbons to more useful bigger hydrocarbons.

  3. In catalytic cracking, much lower pressure is required than thermal cracking.

  4. Petrol obtained from vapour phase cracking has better anti-knock properties than petrol from liquid phase cracking.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Cracking is the decomposition of bigger hydrocarbon molecules into simpler, low boiling hydrocarbons of lower molecular weight.

Multiple choice

Which of the following catalysts are used in catalytic cracking? (a) Silica-alumina (b) Lithium aluminium hydride (c) Zeolites (d) Anhydrous aluminium chloride (e) Aluminum hydrosilicate

  1. (a), (b), (c) and (d)

  2. (a), (c) and (e)

  3. (a), (c) and (d)

  4. (b), (c) and (e)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Silica-alumina, zeolites and aluminium hydrosilicate are used in catalytic cracking. Lithium aluminium hydride used as a reducing agent in organic synthesis, especially for the reduction of esters, carboxylic acids, and amides. Anhydrous aluminium chloride is used as a catalyst for Friedel-Crafts reactions (both acylation and alkylation).

Multiple choice

Which of the following pairs are incorrectly matched ||| |---|---| | Fractions obtained by distillation of crude | Boiling range | | I. Gasoline | Below 30 oC | | II. Kerosene oil | 180-250 oC | | III. Fuel oil | 120-180 oC | | IV. Heavy oil | 320-400 oC |

  1. I and II

  2. I and III

  3. II and III

  4. II and IV
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Both I and III are incorrectly matched. Boiling range on gasoline or petrol or motor spirit is 40-120 oC. Boiling range of Diesel oil or fuel oil or gas oil is 250-320 oC.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct? (a) Crude oil is a non-renewable energy resource. (b) Crude oil and natural gas are generally found in metamorphic rocks. (c) The fraction of crude oil containing a mixture of hydrocarbons such as decane to hexadecane is called kerosene oil.

  1. Only (a) and (b)

  2. Only (b) and (c)

  3. Only (a) and (c)

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

Statements (a) and (c) are correct, while statement (b) is incorrect. Crude oil and natural gas are generally found in sedimentary rocks.

Multiple choice

Consider the following combinations ||| |---|---| | Crude fraction| Uses| | i. Naphtha| As solvent and in dry cleaning.| | ii. Asphalt| As fuel and lubricant.| | iii. Petroleum jelly| As lubricant and in cosmetics and medicines| | iv. Heavy oil| For getting gasoline by cracking process|

Which of the combinations are correct?

  1. i, ii and iii

  2. ii, iii and iv

  3. i, iii and iv

  4. i, ii and iv
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Combinations (i), (iii) and (iv) are correct. Combination (ii) is incorrect. Asphalt is used in waterproofing of roofs and in the construction of roads.

Multiple choice

Which of the following are advantages of LPG over gasoline as a motor fuel? (a) It is cheaper than gasoline. (b) It is highly knock resistant. (c) Its octane number is quiet high and the load sensitivity is very low. (d) Residue and oil contamination is small as it burns cleanly.

  1. (a), (b) and (c)

  2. (a), (b) and (d)

  3. (a), (c) and (d)

  4. All are correct
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Statement (c) is incorrect. Octane number of LPG is quiet low and its load sensitivity is very high.

Multiple choice

Which of the following could replace 'oneself' as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

Whenever a fire breaks out (1), the fire brigade throws water on it to cool the burning fuel to a temperature below the ignition point. The soda–acid extinguisher also works on this principle (2).
In the case of fires caused (3) by oil, sprinkling water is not effective. The oil being lighter than water always floats on the surface of the water and continews (4) to burn. In such cases the foam type fire extinguisher, containing acid and sodium bicarbonate solution, is used.
To extinguish (5) fires caused by electricity, water can not be used because this would result in electrocution of the people involved. In such cases, fire extinguisher based on carbon tetrachloride is used. The carbon tetrachloride liquid vaporises on coming in contact with the burning material. Since these (6) vapours are heavier than air, they settle on the burning material and cut off the supply of air. While using carbon tetrachloride extinguisher, it is advisable (7) to cover the mouth and nose with wet cloth to protect oneself (8) from the poisonous effect of carbon tetrachloride vapours.

  1. themselves

  2. yourself

  3. himself

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

The passage advises people using carbon tetrachloride extinguishers to protect themselves. 'Oneself' is used in general instructions, and in this context addressing the reader directly, 'yourself' is the most appropriate replacement among the reflexive pronoun options.

Multiple choice

Which of the following could replace ‘caused’ as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

Whenever a fire breaks out (1), the fire brigade throws water on it to cool the burning fuel to a temperature below the ignition point. The soda–acid extinguisher also works on this principle (2).
In the case of fires caused (3) by oil, sprinkling water is not effective. The oil being lighter than water always floats on the surface of the water and continews (4) to burn. In such cases the foam type fire extinguisher, containing acid and sodium bicarbonate solution, is used.
To extinguish (5) fires caused by electricity, water can not be used because this would result in electrocution of the people involved. In such cases, fire extinguisher based on carbon tetrachloride is used. The carbon tetrachloride liquid vaporises on coming in contact with the burning material. Since these (6) vapours are heavier than air, they settle on the burning material and cut off the supply of air. While using carbon tetrachloride extinguisher, it is advisable (7) to cover the mouth and nose with wet cloth to protect oneself (8) from the poisonous effect of carbon tetrachloride vapours.

  1. effected

  2. lead

  3. induced

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

Caused means stimulated or induced. So, option 3 is correct.