Coal and Petroleum — Class 8 Science NCERT Solutions (Free)

Free step-by-step NCERT solutions for Class 8 Science chapter "Coal and Petroleum" — 8 important questions with detailed answers for CBSE board exam preparation.

TL;DR: Free step-by-step NCERT solutions for Class 8 Science chapter "Coal and Petroleum" — 8 important questions with detailed answers for CBSE board exam p…

By Syllab.in · Updated Jun 14, 2026

Key Questions Covered:

What are fossil fuels?
Define coal. How was coal formed?
What is coal used for? Name three applications.
Define petroleum and explain its origin.
What is fractional distillation? Name three petroleum products.
What is natural gas and what are its advantages over coal/petroleum?
+ 2 more questions in the full chapter

Solutions Summary:

Question	Status
What are fossil fuels?	✓ Solved
Define coal. How was coal formed?	✓ Solved
What is coal used for? Name three applications.	✓ Solved
Define petroleum and explain its origin.	✓ Solved
What is fractional distillation? Name three petroleum pro…	✓ Solved
What is natural gas and what are its advantages over coal…	✓ Solved

Showing 6 of 8 questions

Q1: What are fossil fuels?

Fossil fuels are energy sources formed from ancient dead plants and animals buried deep underground over millions of years through heat and pressure. Examples: coal, petroleum, natural gas.

Q2: Define coal. How was coal formed?

Coal is a black, non-metallic mineral used as fuel. It formed from partially decomposed plant matter in ancient forests that was buried, compressed, and heated over 300 million years, converting plant tissues into coal.

Q3: What is coal used for? Name three applications.

Coal uses: 1) Thermal power plants generate electricity, 2) Steel and cement industries as heat source, 3) Cooking and heating in homes, 4) Production of coal tar and coal gas, 5) Coking coal in metallurgy.

Q4: Define petroleum and explain its origin.

Petroleum is a dark, thick liquid hydrocarbon mixture found underground. Formed from remains of tiny marine organisms (plankton) buried 300-400 million years ago, subjected to heat and pressure, converted into crude oil.

Q5: What is fractional distillation? Name three petroleum products.

Fractional distillation separates crude oil into useful products based on boiling points using heated fractionating columns. Products: petrol/gasoline (vehicles), diesel (generators, trucks), kerosene (lamps, jet fuel), lubricating oil (machinery).

Q6: What is natural gas and what are its advantages over coal/petroleum?

Natural gas is a gaseous fuel mixture (methane, ethane) found above petroleum deposits. Advantages: burns cleanly with less pollution, cheaper than petroleum, easier to transport via pipelines, produces more heat per unit, leaves no ash residue.

Showing 6 of 8 questions. Visit the full page for complete solutions.