Science · Class 8
Coal and Petroleum
Fossil fuels, refining petroleum, and natural gas.
4 sections15–25 min read6 MCQs · 2 examples
Chapter Overview
Coal and petroleum are fossil fuels formed from dead organisms over millions of years. They are non-renewable. This chapter covers types of coal, petroleum refining, and natural gas.
Coal
- Formed from dead vegetation under heat and pressure
- Products: coke (steel), coal tar (chemicals), coal gas, ammonia liquor
- CNG and petroleum are related fossil fuels
Petroleum
- Formed from marine organisms
- Refining by fractional distillation: LPG, petrol, kerosene, diesel, lubricating oil, paraffin wax, bitumen
- Petrol and diesel fuels for vehicles
Conservation
- Fossil fuels limited — use judiciously
- Alternatives: solar, wind, hydroelectric
- CNG cleaner than petrol/diesel
Solved Examples
Step-by-step solutions — read each step before checking the final answer.
Coal products
Name four products of coal processing.
- 1Coke — fuel and reducing agent in steel
- 2Coal tar — dyes, drugs, explosives
- 3Coal gas — fuel
- 4Ammonia liquor
Answer
Coke, coal tar, coal gas, ammonia liquor
Refining
Why is petroleum called 'black gold'?
- 1High economic value
- 2Source of fuels and petrochemicals
- 3Limited non-renewable resource
Answer
Valuable energy and chemical source
Key Points to Remember
- ✓ Coal is carbon-rich fossil fuel
- ✓ LPG stored under pressure
- ✓ Bitumen used for road surfacing
Exam Tips
- • Draw fractional distillation column products
- • List uses of coal tar products
- • Why should fossil fuels be conserved?
Practice MCQs — Coal and Petroleum
Test your understanding with topic-wise multiple choice questions. Explanations appear after each answer.
Question 1 of 6Score: 0/0
Coal is formed from: