Chapter 5: Coal and Petroleum

A. Choose the most appropriate answer:

1. Renewable resources need to be conserved because

• D. all of these

2. It is an important fraction of petroleum. It is further distilled to get lubricating oil and

paraffin wax.

• d. residue

3. Coal mainly contains

• a. Carbon.

4. Which of the following is regarded as the best variety of coal?

• c. anthracite

5. Which of the following is a non-polluting fuel for vehicles?

• c. CNG

6. In destructive distillation, coal is heated strongly to about

• B. 1000 °C.

7. Which of these is not a natural source of energy?

• c. electricity

8. Fossil fuels are

• d. non-renewable and cannot be recycled.

9. Which of these is not a fossil fuel?

• d. Hydrogen

10. Which of these is obtained by the destructive distillation of coal?

• b. coal gas
B. VERY SHORT-ANSWER QUESTIONS: Give one-word answers (with
explanations for True/False):

1. Are natural resources living, non-living or both?

• Both
o Natural resources include living organisms (like forests and animals) and
non-living resources (like water, minerals, and fossil fuels).

2. Petroleum is a renewable resource, as it is naturally renewed in a million years. True or

false?

• False
o Petroleum takes millions of years to form, making it a non-renewable
resource.

3. The process of conversion of wood into coal is called

• Carbonization

4. ______ is the variety of coal with maximum carbon content.

• Anthracite

5. Petroleum and natural gas were formed from dead

• Organisms
o These fuels are formed from the remains of ancient marine plants and
animals buried under layers of sediment.

6. In fractional distillation, hydrocarbons with the ____ boiling points condense first.

• highest
o Heavier hydrocarbons condense at higher temperatures during the
distillation process.

7. Name two fuels obtained from petroleum, which can be used as domestic fuels.

• LPG, Kerosene

8. Which fuel is used in jet aeroplanes?

• Aviation fuel
9. Name one non-polluting fuel for vehicles.

• CNG
o CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) produces fewer emissions compared to
petrol and diesel.

10. What is the colour of the crude oil pumped out from a well?

• Black

11. Which petroleum product is used for surfacing roads?

• Bitumen

12. Name the petroleum product used to manufacture candles, vaseline, grease, polish, etc.

• Paraffin wax

13. Which is the ultimate source of the energy of fossil fuels?

• Sun
o The sun provides energy for photosynthesis, which eventually leads to the
formation of plant and animal matter that turns into fossil fuels over millions
of years.

14. The fuel obtained from coal that is almost pure form of carbon is

• Coke

C. SHORT-ANSWER QUESTIONS (TYPE I):

1. Differentiate between renewable and non-renewable resources, giving two examples of

each.

• Renewable resources are those that can be replenished naturally over a short
period. Examples: Solar energy, wind energy.
• Non-renewable resources are finite and take millions of years to form. Examples:
Coal, petroleum.

2. What are fossil fuels?

• Fossil fuels are natural fuels formed from the remains of dead plants and animals
over millions of years, such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas.

3. Why should fossil fuels not be wasted?

 • Fossil fuels are non-renewable and take millions of years to form. Wasting them
can lead to energy shortages and environmental issues like pollution and climate
change.

4. How is coke obtained?

• Coke is obtained by heating coal in the absence of air during destructive

distillation.

5. What are the advantages of using natural gas as a fuel?

• Natural gas is clean-burning, efficient, and produces fewer pollutants compared

to other fossil fuels. It is also cheaper and easily transported.

6. Why is there a rapid increase in our energy consumption?

• The rapid increase is due to industrialization, population growth, urbanization,

and technological advancements that require more energy.

7. Why are fossil fuels our most important source of energy today?

• Fossil fuels are abundant, easy to use, transport, and provide high energy
output, making them the primary source of energy for industries, transportation,
and households.

8. What is the main purpose of petroleum refining?

• Petroleum refining is done to separate crude oil into useful products like petrol,
diesel, kerosene, and LPG through the process of fractional distillation.

D. SHORT-ANSWER QUESTIONS (TYPE II):

1. If a resource is renewable, it can still get exhausted. Discuss with two examples.

• A renewable resource can get exhausted if it is overused or mismanaged.

o Forests: Although forests are renewable, excessive deforestation for timber
or agriculture can lead to the exhaustion of forest resources.
o Water: Water is renewable, but overconsumption and pollution can deplete
freshwater supplies faster than nature can replenish them.

2. Why is topsoil considered a non-renewable resource even though it is constantly being

formed by weathering of rocks?
 • Topsoil is considered non-renewable because it forms at a very slow rate (a few
millimeters per year), while it can be lost much faster due to erosion, poor farming
practices, and urbanization.

3. Why do we feel the need for conservation more today than our ancestors did?

• Today, population growth, industrialization, and overconsumption of resources

have put more pressure on natural resources. The increased demand and
environmental degradation make conservation more crucial than ever to ensure
the sustainability of resources.

4. How was coal formed?

• Coal was formed from the remains of dead plants that accumulated in swampy
areas millions of years ago. Over time, heat and pressure turned these plant
materials into peat, lignite, and eventually into coal.

5. What are the important uses of coke?

• Coke is primarily used as a fuel and reducing agent in the production of iron and
steel. It is also used in smelting metal ores and as a source of carbon for various
industrial processes.

6. How was petroleum formed?

• Petroleum was formed from the remains of marine organisms (plankton, plants,
and animals) that were buried under layers of sediment. Over millions of years, heat
and pressure transformed these organic materials into crude oil.

7. Name four important products of petroleum and give their uses.

• Petrol: Used as fuel for vehicles.

• Diesel: Used as fuel for heavy vehicles and machines.
• Kerosene: Used for cooking, heating, and in jet engines.
• LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas): Used as a cooking fuel and in heating
applications.

8. What are the advantages of using energy judiciously?

• Using energy judiciously helps in reducing environmental pollution, conserving

natural resources, lowering energy costs, and ensuring sustainability for future
generations. It also reduces greenhouse gas emissions and mitigates the impact of
climate change.
E. LONG-ANSWER QUESTIONS:

1. How is destructive distillation of coal carried out? What are the products obtained and
their main uses?

• Destructive distillation of coal is carried out by heating coal in the absence of air.
This process breaks down the coal into simpler substances due to high
temperatures.
• The main products obtained are:
o Coke: A solid, used as a fuel and reducing agent in metal extraction.
o Coal gas: A mixture of gases used for lighting and heating.
o Coal tar: Contains chemicals used to make paints, dyes, and synthetic
dyes.
o Ammonia water: Used in fertilizer production.
o Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG): Used as a fuel in households and
industries.

2. How is refining of petroleum carried out? Name the important products obtained.

• The refining of petroleum involves fractional distillation, where crude oil is heated
in a large distillation column. The various components separate at different boiling
points to form fractions.
o Gasoline (Petrol): Used as a fuel for cars.
o Diesel: Used in trucks and heavy machinery.
o Kerosene: Used as jet fuel and in cooking.
o LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas): Used for cooking and in heating
applications.
o Asphalt: Used for road construction and roofing.
o Lubricating oils: Used to lubricate engines.

3. List five things that you can do to help in preventing an energy crisis.

1. Use energy-efficient appliances and lighting (like LED bulbs).

2. Conserve water to reduce the energy required for water heating and pumping.
3. Adopt renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower.
4. Limit the use of fossil fuels by using alternative fuels such as CNG or electricity.
5. Practice energy conservation by turning off unused appliances and minimizing
heating and cooling needs.

4. How is CNG obtained? What are its main uses?

• CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) is obtained by compressing natural gas (mainly

methane) to a high pressure. The gas is extracted from natural gas fields or oil wells
and then purified.
 • Main uses of CNG:
o Fuel for vehicles (especially cars, buses, and trucks).
o Fuel for industrial purposes like heating and power generation.
o Replacement for coal and oil in some domestic heating and cooking
applications.

HOTS QUESTIONS:

1. If a resource can be replaced within ten years by natural processes, would you classify it
as renewable or non-renewable?

• Renewable resource. If a resource is replenished naturally in a short period (like ten

years), it is considered renewable because it can be replenished as fast as it is
used.

2. All renewable resources are inexhaustible. Do you agree? Give reasons.

• No, I do not agree. While renewable resources can be replenished, they are not
always inexhaustible. For example, forests can be destroyed by deforestation, and
water resources can be depleted due to overuse and pollution.

3. All combustible substances are not fuels. Why?

• Not all combustible substances are fuels because a substance must release
useful energy when it is burned. Some combustible substances might burn, but they
release little or no usable energy or may produce harmful byproducts like toxic
gases. For instance, wood may be a fuel, but dry leaves may burn quickly without
releasing much energy.

4. Can fossil fuels be made in the laboratory?

• No, fossil fuels cannot be made in the laboratory in the same way they are naturally
formed over millions of years. While some synthetic processes like coal
liquefaction and oil shale conversion exist, they do not mimic the natural
formation process of fossil fuels.

5. Conservation of resources means avoiding their wasteful use. Does this definition cover
all aspects of conservation? Explain.

• No, it does not cover all aspects. Conservation also involves sustainable use,
protecting ecosystems, recycling, and restoring resources. It is not just about
reducing waste, but also about ensuring long-term availability and preventing
environmental degradation.
6. In a petroleum well, crude oil is found above water. Which two properties of petroleum
make it possible to form a layer of it above water?

• The two properties are:

o Lower density: Petroleum is less dense than water, so it floats on top.
o Non-polarity: Petroleum is a non-polar substance, while water is polar,
causing the two to form separate layers.