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 biology coal, petroleum and petrochemicals carbon cycling mineral coal carbon cycle coal and its products

The purest form of coal is:

  1. peat

  2. anthracite

  3. lignite

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

High grade (HG) and ultra high grade (UHG) anthracite are the highest grades of anthracite coal. 

They are the purest forms of coal, having the highest degree of coalification, the highest carbon count and energy content and the fewest impurities (moisture, ash and volatiles).

Anthracite contains nearly 95% of carbon and is the purest form of coal so anthracite is the purest form of coal than any other forms.

Therefore, option B is correct.


Multiple choice biology coal, petroleum and petrochemicals carbon cycling mineral coal carbon cycle coal and its products

__________ has the lowest percentage of carbon.

  1. Lignite

  2. Bituminous

  3. Anthracite

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

Peat found in the lowest depth of earth considering the other forms of coal.It also has the lowest percentage of carbon as compared to other forms.In other words, we can say that they are the youngest fossils.

It contains about 27-40% of carbon content.
So the answer is $D$.

Multiple choice biology coal, petroleum and petrochemicals carbon cycling mineral coal carbon cycle coal and its products

Which form of coal has the highest carbon content in it?

  1. Lignite

  2. Sub-bituminous

  3. Bituminous

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

The order of carbon content is as follows:

Lignite < sub-bituminous < bituminous < anthracite 
Hence, anthracite has highest carbon content. It is a hard, compact variety of coal that has a good lustre.

Multiple choice biology coal, petroleum and petrochemicals carbon cycling mineral coal carbon cycle coal and its products

Peat is the first stage product of coal consisting of $60$% carbon.

  1. True

  2. False
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Peat is a fuel consisting of spongy material formed by the partial decomposition of organic matter in wetlands such as swamps, bogs, and moors. Peat contains tree cellulose, more than $75$% moisture and less than $60$% carbon.

Multiple choice biology coal, petroleum and petrochemicals carbon cycling mineral coal carbon cycle coal and its products

The coal with highest ash content is?

  1. Steam Coal

  2. Lignite

  3. Coking Coal

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

Coal is available in 4 forms: Lignite, bituminous, anthracite and sub-bituminous. Anthracite is the highest ranked coal with the carbon percentage of above 87%. The carbon content in bituminous is 77-87%, in sub-bituminous is 71-77% and in lignite is 60-70%.  Lignite has the least carbon content and hence highest ash content.

Multiple choice biology coal, petroleum and petrochemicals carbon cycling mineral coal carbon cycle coal and its products

Which of the following will give off less heat per given unit weight?

  1. Peat

  2. Lignite

  3. Bituminous

  4. Anthracite
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

  • Peat has the carbon content of about 
  • Anthracite has the carbon content of above 87%.
Hence, peat has the minimum carbon content and anthracite is the highest ranked coal.
So, peat will produce least heat per given unit weight and the anthracite will produce the highest heat per given unit weight.

Multiple choice biology coal, petroleum and petrochemicals carbon cycling mineral coal carbon cycle coal and its products

The best coal suitable for the production of energy is_________________.

  1. Lignite

  2. Bituminous

  3. Anthracite

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

Anthracite coal has several important advantages not only over other forms of coal but over other energy-producing materials in general. Its most important advantage is, of course, the fact that it produces very little pollution or soot, making it a very clean source of heat. Anthracite coal is also very efficient because only a small amount needs to be burnt to produce a large amount of energy. Additionally, there is a large supply of anthracite, over six billion tons in the Appalachian Mountains alone, with more reserves found in the Rocky Mountains and the Andes.

Hence, the correct option is $C$

Multiple choice biology coal, petroleum and petrochemicals carbon cycling mineral coal carbon cycle coal and its products

The elements that are combustible in the fuel are:

  1. carbon and hydrogen

  2. carbon, hydrogen and ash

  3. carbon, hydrogen and sulphur

  4. carbon, nitrogen and ash
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The substance that burns in the presence of oxygen and heat are called combustible substances whereas that do not burn are non-combustible substances. Elements such as carbon, hydrogen and sulphur present in the fuel makes it combustible.

Multiple choice biology coal, petroleum and petrochemicals carbon cycling mineral coal carbon cycle coal and its products

What is pulverised coal?

  1. Non smoking coal

  2. Coal free from ash

  3. Coal broken into fine particles

  4. Coal which burns for long time
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Coal is a black coloured sedimentary rock. When coal is grounded or broken into fine particles using a device called powdered coal mill, the resultant coal obtained is called powdered coal or pulverized coal. It is used in cosmetics, for the generation of electricity etc.