Coal and Petroleum
Focused last-minute revision notes with clear concepts, exam traps, key comparisons and compact practice.
Chapter Snapshot
- Coal, petroleum and natural gas are fossil fuels formed over millions of years.
- They are exhaustible natural resources because formation is extremely slow compared with use.
- Coal formation from buried vegetation is associated with carbonisation.
- Important coal products include coke, coal tar and coal gas.
- Petroleum is separated into useful fractions in a refinery.
- Petroleum products include LPG, petrol, kerosene, diesel, lubricants and bitumen.
- Natural gas is used as a fuel and industrial raw material; CNG is a compressed form used in transport.
- Conserving fossil fuels saves limited resources and reduces pollution and greenhouse-gas emissions.
What You Will Learn
- Differentiate exhaustible and inexhaustible resources
- Explain fossil fuel formation broadly
- Identify major products of coal
- Explain petroleum refining at a basic level
- List major petroleum fractions and uses
- Explain natural gas and CNG
- Suggest ways to conserve fossil fuels
Last-Minute Chapter Map
Fossil fuels are limited resources formed over geological time and processed into many useful products.
1. Natural Resources
Resources such as sunlight and air are available on very large scales, while coal, petroleum and natural gas exist in limited reserves. These fuels are called exhaustible resources because human use can deplete accessible stocks.
2. Coal and Carbonisation
Coal formed from ancient vegetation buried under sediments and transformed by heat and pressure over millions of years. The slow conversion of dead vegetation into coal is called carbonisation.
3. Products of Coal
Coke is a tough, porous carbon-rich material used in metal extraction and industry. Coal tar is a complex mixture from which many useful chemicals can be obtained. Coal gas is produced during processing of coal and has been used as an industrial fuel.
4. Petroleum
Petroleum formed from ancient marine organisms buried under sediments and transformed over geological time. Crude petroleum is a mixture of many hydrocarbons and must be separated into useful fractions.
5. Petroleum Refining
A petroleum refinery separates crude oil into fractions with different boiling ranges and uses. Common products include LPG, petrol, kerosene, diesel, lubricating oil, paraffin wax and bitumen.
6. Natural Gas
Natural gas is often found with petroleum deposits. It burns relatively cleanly compared with coal and many liquid fuels and is used for cooking, electricity generation and industry. CNG means compressed natural gas.
7. Why Conservation Matters
Fossil fuels take millions of years to form but can be consumed quickly. Burning them also releases carbon dioxide and other pollutants. Efficient transport, public transit, reduced wastage and renewable-energy use can reduce demand.
Exhaustible vs Inexhaustible Resources
| Feature | Exhaustible | Inexhaustible / Practically Renewable at Human Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Limited reserves | Very large or continuously replenished flows |
| Examples | Coal, petroleum, natural gas | Sunlight, wind |
| Management | Must be conserved | Still should be used responsibly |
Exam Focus
Must Revise Before the Exam
- Exhaustible resources
- Carbonisation
- Coke, coal tar, coal gas
- Petroleum refining
- Petroleum fractions
- Natural gas and CNG
- Conservation of fossil fuels
Common Mistakes
Key Terms
Key Terms
Quick Revision
Quick Revision
- Coal, petroleum and natural gas are fossil fuels.
- Carbonisation describes long-term conversion of buried vegetation into coal.
- Coke is carbon-rich; coal tar contains many chemicals.
- Crude petroleum is refined into useful fractions.
- LPG, petrol, diesel, kerosene, lubricants and bitumen are petroleum products.
- CNG = compressed natural gas.
- Conservation protects limited reserves and reduces environmental impact.
Practice Questions
Which is an exhaustible natural resource?
A. Sunlight
B. Wind
C. Coal
D. Air
View Solution
Correct Answer: C. Coal
Coal exists in limited reserves and forms extremely slowly.
The conversion of buried vegetation into coal is called:
A. fermentation
B. carbonisation
C. electroplating
D. distillation
View Solution
Correct Answer: B. carbonisation
Carbonisation is the long-term transformation of ancient vegetation into coal.
Which petroleum product is used for road surfacing?
A. Bitumen
B. LPG
C. Paraffin wax
D. Petrol
View Solution
Correct Answer: A. Bitumen
Bitumen is widely used for road surfacing.
CNG stands for:
A. compressed natural gas
B. chemical nitrogen gas
C. carbon neutral gasoline
D. cold natural gasoline
View Solution
Correct Answer: A. compressed natural gas
CNG means compressed natural gas.
Why are fossil fuels called exhaustible resources?
View Solution
Accessible reserves are limited and their natural formation takes millions of years, far slower than the rate at which humans consume them.
What is petroleum refining?
View Solution
It is the industrial separation and processing of crude petroleum into useful fractions such as LPG, petrol, kerosene, diesel and lubricants.
Give two reasons for reducing unnecessary use of petrol and diesel.
View Solution
They are limited fossil fuels, and burning them releases carbon dioxide and air pollutants. Efficient use conserves resources and reduces environmental impact.
Chapter Summary
Chapter Summary
- Coal, petroleum and natural gas are fossil fuels.
- Carbonisation describes long-term conversion of buried vegetation into coal.
- Coke is carbon-rich; coal tar contains many chemicals.
- Crude petroleum is refined into useful fractions.
- LPG, petrol, diesel, kerosene, lubricants and bitumen are petroleum products.
- CNG = compressed natural gas.
- Conservation protects limited reserves and reduces environmental impact.