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SAI International School

Class – VIII

Subject – Chemistry

Topic – Coal and Petroleum

Sub-Topic – Destructive Distillation of Coal

LESSON NOTES

DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF COAL:

Destructive distillation of coal involves the heating of coal in the absence of air. This causes its

decomposition into different products (solids, liquids and gas). Some of the products obtained in

this process are Coke, Coal tar and Coal gas.

COKE:

 It is a tough and porous black solid substance. It can be prepared by heating coal in the

absence of air or by the destructive distillation of coal. In this process a gaseous product
(coal gas) and a liquid (coal tar) is obtained and a black residue is obtained known as

coke.
 It is the purest form of carbon. It contains 98% of carbon.

 It is used as reducing agent to extract metals.
 It is used to manufacture steel.

 It is also used as a fuel. It is a better fuel because it releases more heat energy on

burning equal amount of coal. It also burns without producing any smoke, where as coal
produces large amount of smoke.

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