Question

Coke is the solid carbonaceous material derived from destructive distillation of:
(A) bituminous coal
(B) ash
(C) sulphur
(D) all of the above

Answer 1

Hint: The process destructive distillation is the decomposition of a given material in a closed container in an inert atmosphere and collecting off the volatile constituents. This process of destructive distillation will lead to the formation of many by products.

Complete step by step solution:
- As we know, Coke is a hard, grey and porous fuel with a high carbon content and few impurities. Coke is a significant industrial product, used largely in iron ore smelting, but also as a fuel in forges and stoves when air pollution is a concern.
- Let’s see the process of destructive distillation in detail. It’s the process of decomposing a given material in a closed container in an inert atmosphere and collecting off the volatile constituents. This process will lead to the formation of many by products.
- In the destructive distillation, the heated coal, ash, sulphur is heated and coke is formed and the ammonia dissolves in water to give ammonia liquor and coal tar and coal gas. From an experimental way of approach, the coal is taken in a test tube and heated and the coal will break down to give coke, ammonia, coal gas and coal tar.
- The coal tar formed above is collected at the bottom of another test tube and the coal gas will escape from the chamber. Ammonia liquor is formed by the absorption of ammonia formed in the above process in water and the final residue left in the parent test tube will be our desired product coke.
- From the above discussion it’s clear that coke is a solid carbonaceous material which is derived from the destructive distillation of low-ash, low-sulphur bituminous coal.

Therefore the correct option is (D) all of the above.

Note: Do not confuse the terms destructive distillation of coal and combustion of coal. The combustion is the process of burning coal in the presence of oxygen or air and the products of combustion of coal will be carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.