Carbon and Fossil Fuels

The hydrogenation of vegetable oils (converting unsaturated fats to saturated fats) is catalyzed by finely divided nickel metal at elevated temperatures and pressures. Nickel is an excellent hydrogenation catalyst due to its ability to absorb hydrogen and activate both hydrogen and the unsaturated bonds. Alumina, charcoal, and silica are not effective hydrogenation catalysts.

Ammonium nitrate is a fertilizer compound that becomes a powerful explosive when mixed with diesel fuel or other fuel sources. This mixture, known as ANFO (Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil), has been widely used in mining and construction, and unfortunately also in terrorist attacks like the Oklahoma City bombing. Pure ammonium nitrate is stable, but the addition of fuel makes it highly explosive.

Petroleum is a fossil fuel derived from ancient fossilised organic materials, such as zooplankton and algae. Vast quantities of these remains settled  in sea or lake bottoms, mixing with sediments and being buried under anoxic conditions.

Yes, it is the correct answer. After processing of coal, the products produced are coke, coal tar and coal gas.

Yes, it is correct. Coke is the tough, porous black substance used in manufacturing steel.

Yes, it is the correct answer. It is hard and black stone like substance formed by the decomposition of the dead remains of plants when they got buried under high temperature and high pressure.

Yes, it is correct. N-hexadecane, on heating, cracks into n-octane and octene.

Yes, it is correct. Sea organisms that die get accumulated at the bottom of the sea. The deposition of sand and clay on them compresses this organic material and converts it into petroleum.

Yes, it is correct. Bitumen is nowadays used to make roads instead of coal tar. Bitumen is commonly called asphalt.

Yes, it is correct. Incomplete combustion of pentane takes place in insufficient amount of oxygen. The products then produced are carbon monoxide and water.

Yes, it is the correct answer. Fuel consumption increases significantly over 90 km/h. At 110 km/h, a car uses up to 25 per cent more fuel than it would consume at 90 km/h.

Yes, it is correct. Natural gas is a better fuel because it burns completely and releases very few polluting emissions.

The cetane number is used to rate diesel oil, indicating its combustion quality. Higher cetane numbers mean better ignition quality and smoother combustion in diesel engines, similar to how octane rating works for petrol.

Nickel is the catalyst used in the hydrogenation of vegetable oils to convert unsaturated fats into saturated fats, producing solid fats like margarine and vegetable ghee. The process involves adding hydrogen gas to the double bonds of unsaturated fatty acids. Nickel's catalytic surface facilitates this reaction at high temperatures and pressures.