Products from Coal & Petroleum

• Coal products — coke, coal tar, coal gas.
• Petroleum refining — petrol, diesel, kerosene, lubricating oil, paraffin wax.
• Petrochemicals — dyes, drugs, detergents, plastics, synthetic fibres.
• Coke used in steel manufacture.

1. Coal processing — destructive distillation gives coke (fuel), coal tar (100+ compounds), coal gas (fuel).
2. Coal tar — source of aromatic compounds; used in road surfacing, paints.
3. Petroleum refining — fractional distillation by boiling points.
4. Fractions — LPG, petrol, kerosene, diesel, heavy oil, bitumen.
5. Petrochemicals — naphtha fraction → plastics, nylon, polyester.
6. Real world — bitumen for roads; paraffin wax in candles; medicines from coal tar derivatives.

Uses of three coal products

Coke — steel industry (reducing agent, high carbon fuel).
Coal tar — waterproofing, moth balls (naphthalene), dyes.
Coal gas — fuel in homes/industry historically.
Petroleum — petrol for vehicles; kerosene for stoves; lubricants for machines.

• Confusing coke with coal (coke is processed, almost pure carbon).
• Misconception: petrol comes directly without refining.
• Thinking plastic only from petroleum (also from coal/natural gas routes).
• Ignoring bitumen as petroleum product for roads.

• Name two products obtained from coal.
• List four fractions of petroleum.
• What are petrochemicals used for?

Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Products from Coal & Petroleum.