Olympiad Test: Coal And Petroleum - UPSC MCQ

Water is a natural substance. Here's a detailed explanation:
Definition of water:
- Water is a chemical compound that consists of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom. Its chemical formula is H2O.
Characteristics of water as a natural substance:
- Water is abundant in nature, found in various forms such as rivers, lakes, oceans, and rain.
- It occurs naturally in the Earth's water cycle, where it evaporates from bodies of water, forms clouds, and falls back to the ground as precipitation.
- Water is essential for all living organisms and plays a crucial role in the functioning of ecosystems.
- It is the main constituent of fluids in the bodies of plants, animals, and humans.
- Water has unique properties, such as high heat capacity, high boiling and freezing points, and the ability to dissolve many substances.
- It exists in three states: solid (ice), liquid (water), and gas (water vapor).
Why water is not man-made:
- Water is not created or synthesized by humans. It occurs naturally through physical and chemical processes in the environment.
- While humans can purify and treat water for various purposes, such as drinking and industrial use, the basic substance itself is not man-made.
Conclusion:
Water is a natural substance that is abundant in nature and essential for life. It occurs naturally through various processes and is not created by humans.

When coal burns in air, the carbon component of the coal comes in contact with the oxygen in the air and releases carbon dioxide CO₂  when combined.

Answer:
The purest form of carbon is coke. Here is a detailed explanation:
Definition:
- Coke is a solid carbonaceous product obtained by heating coal in the absence of air.
- It is a porous, hard, and black substance.
Properties of Coke:
- Coke is almost pure carbon (around 98% carbon content) and contains very low levels of impurities.
- It has a high carbon content and a low ash content.
- It is a fuel with a high calorific value.
- Coke is a good reducing agent and is used in metallurgical processes to extract metals from their ores.
Different Forms of Carbon:
1. Coal:
- Coal is a sedimentary rock and is a combination of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur.
- It is formed through the process of coalification from the remains of plants that lived and died millions of years ago.
- Coal has a lower carbon content compared to coke.
2. Charcoal:
- Charcoal is a black, porous form of carbon obtained by heating wood or other organic materials in the absence of air.
- It is commonly used as a fuel, especially in barbecues and grills.
- Charcoal has a lower carbon content compared to coke.
3. Coke:
- Coke is obtained by heating coal in the absence of air, which drives off volatile components such as water, gases, and tar.
- It is primarily used as a fuel and as a reducing agent in various industrial processes.
- Coke has the highest carbon content among coal, charcoal, and coke itself.
Conclusion:
The purest form of carbon is coke as it has the highest carbon content and contains very low levels of impurities. Coal and charcoal have lower carbon content compared to coke.

The correct option is C.
The coal tars are generally variable and complex mixtures of poly cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phenol as well as hetero cyclic compounds. Totally, there are roughly about 200 substances present in coal tar

The U.S. petroleum industry began in 1859 when a former railroad conductor drilled a well 69.5 feet deep in Northwestern Pennsylvania.

PCRA stands for:


The correct answer is B: Petroleum Conservation Research Association.


Here is a detailed explanation of each option and why option B is the correct answer:


A: Public Conservations Research Association
- This is not the correct answer. There is no organization named "Public Conservations Research Association" related to the acronym PCRA.


B: Petroleum Conservation Research Association
- This is the correct answer. PCRA stands for Petroleum Conservation Research Association. It is an organization in India that works towards promoting energy efficiency and conservation of petroleum products.


C: Public Council of Research Association
- This is not the correct answer. There is no organization named "Public Council of Research Association" related to the acronym PCRA.


D: Partial Counting of Remaining Amendment
- This is not the correct answer. PCRA is not related to any amendment or counting process.


To summarize, PCRA stands for Petroleum Conservation Research Association. It is an organization in India that focuses on promoting energy efficiency and conservation of petroleum products.

The correct option is Option C.
Coal is called a fossil fuel because it was made from plants that were once alive! Since coal comes from plants, and plants get their energy from the sun, the energy in coal also came from the sun. The coal we use today took millions of years to form. Heat and pressure turned the dead plants into coal.

Water is a natural resource:
Water is indeed a natural resource, and its importance cannot be overstated. Here's a detailed explanation:
Definition of water as a natural resource:
- Natural resources refer to those materials or substances that occur naturally and are used by living organisms.
- Water is a vital natural resource that is found in various forms, such as lakes, rivers, oceans, and groundwater.
Reasons why water is considered a natural resource:
- Abundance in nature: Water covers about 71% of the Earth's surface, making it one of the most abundant substances on our planet.
- Essential for life: Water is a fundamental requirement for all living organisms, including humans, animals, and plants.
- Sustains ecosystems: Water plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems, supporting biodiversity, and providing habitats for various species.
- Source of energy: Water is used to generate hydroelectric power, a renewable and clean source of energy.
- Agriculture and food production: Water is indispensable for agricultural activities, irrigation, and crop growth, ensuring food security.
- Industrial and domestic use: Water is used in industries for manufacturing, cooling processes, and as a household essential for drinking, cooking, sanitation, and hygiene.
Conclusion:
Water is undeniably a natural resource due to its abundance, essentiality for life, ecological significance, energy generation potential, agricultural importance, and various industrial and domestic uses. Recognizing and properly managing this precious resource is crucial for sustainable development and the well-being of our planet and its inhabitants.

Wood is a fossil fuel - False

Wood is not considered a fossil fuel because:

• Definition of fossil fuel: Fossil fuels are formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals that have undergone geological processes over millions of years. They include coal, oil, and natural gas.


• Composition of wood: Wood is primarily composed of organic matter derived from trees. It is not formed through the same geological processes as fossil fuels.


• Renewable resource: Wood is considered a renewable resource as it can be regrown and harvested sustainably.


• Carbon-neutral: When wood is burned, it releases carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. However, this carbon dioxide is part of the natural carbon cycle and is offset by the growth of new trees, making wood a carbon-neutral energy source.


• Alternative fuel source: Wood can be used as a source of energy in the form of firewood, wood pellets, or biomass. It is often used in wood-burning stoves, fireplaces, and biomass power plants.

Therefore, wood is not classified as a fossil fuel but rather as a renewable and alternative energy source.

Fuels burn when they react with oxygen in the air. If there is plenty of air, complete combustion happens.  Coal is mostly carbon. During complete combustion, carbon is oxidized to carbon dioxide:
carbon + oxygen -- carbon dioxide
If there is insufficient air for complete combustion, incomplete combustion (also called partial combustion)  happens. Hydrogen is still oxidized to water, but carbon monoxide forms instead of carbon dioxide.

So, the correct answer is 'Carbon monoxide'.

Is Coke almost the purest form of carbon?

No, Coke is not almost the purest form of carbon. Here's why:

1. Definition of Coke:

• Coke is a solid carbonaceous residue obtained from the destructive distillation of coal.

2. Composition of Coke:

• While Coke is primarily composed of carbon, it also contains other elements such as hydrogen, sulfur, nitrogen, and ash.


• These impurities are present in different amounts depending on the source and production process of the Coke.

3. Carbon Purity:

• The purest form of carbon is diamond, which consists of carbon atoms arranged in a crystal lattice structure.


• Graphite is another form of carbon that is relatively pure, consisting of carbon atoms arranged in layers.


• Coke, on the other hand, is not as pure as diamond or graphite, as it contains impurities.

4. Applications of Coke:

• Coke is primarily used as a fuel and as a reducing agent in the production of iron and steel.


• Its high carbon content and low impurities make it a suitable material for these industrial processes.

Conclusion:

Therefore, it is incorrect to say that Coke is almost the purest form of carbon. While Coke is primarily composed of carbon, it also contains impurities, unlike diamond or graphite, which are considered purer forms of carbon.

When wood is heated above 270° C it begins to carbonize. If air is absent, the final product is charcoal. When the wood is dry it's temperature rises, and at about 270°C , it begins to spontaneously decompose. 

On 26 March 1867, oil was struck at  merely 118 feet(35.97-m) in Asia's first mechanically drilled well at Makum  near Margherita area of upper Assam.

 Plants contain mainly carbon, which gets converted into coal. Hence, the slow process of conversion of dead vegetation into coal is called carbonisation.

Petroleum is also known as Black Gold -  because when crude oil is extracted from the land it is black in color. People call it gold because of its oils and value . It is very difficult to find. So it is called Black Gold.