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📘 Study MCQs
Q1. ** Which of these is an example of an inexhaustible natural resource?
• Coal
• Petroleum
• Sunlight
• Natural Gas
Answer: Sunlight
Inexhaustible natural resources are present in unlimited quantity in nature and are not likely to be exhausted by human activities. Sunlight and wind are classic examples.
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Q2. ** Fossil fuels like coal and petroleum are classified under which type of natural resources?
• Inexhaustible Resources
• Exhaustible Resources
• Human-made Resources
• Metallic Resources
Answer: Exhaustible Resources
Exhaustible natural resources are those which are present in limited quantity in nature and can be exhausted by human activities. Fossil fuels take millions of years to form.
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Q3. ** What is the primary substance obtained from the destructive distillation of coal?
• Coke
• Coal Tar
• Coal Gas
• All of the above
Answer: All of the above
Destructive distillation of coal is a process of heating coal strongly in the absence of air. It yields several useful products including coke, coal tar, and coal gas.
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Q4. ** Which product of coal distillation is a tough, porous, and black substance used as a smokeless fuel?
• Coal Tar
• Coke
• Bitumen
• Paraffin Wax
Answer: Coke
Coke is an almost pure form of carbon. It is used as a smokeless fuel in industries and for the extraction of metals from their ores.
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Q5. ** Which foul-smelling, thick black liquid obtained from coal is used in making various chemicals?
• Petroleum
• Lubricating Oil
• Coal Tar
• Kerosene
Answer: Coal Tar
Coal Tar is a black, thick liquid with an unpleasant smell. It is a source of numerous chemicals used in making drugs, dyes, plastics, perfumes, and pesticides.
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Q6. ** Which gas obtained during coal processing is used as a fuel in many industries?
• Natural Gas
• Coal Gas
• Petroleum Gas
• Biogas
Answer: Coal Gas
Coal Gas is obtained as a by-product during the destructive distillation of coal. It was historically used for street lighting and is now used as an industrial fuel.
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Q7. ** Petroleum is a mixture of which of the following?
• Salts
• Hydrocarbons
• Alcohols
• Carbohydrates
Answer: Hydrocarbons
Petroleum is a complex natural mixture of various organic compounds called hydrocarbons (compounds of hydrogen and carbon), along with small amounts of other elements.
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Q8. ** The process of separating the various components of petroleum is based on their difference in:
• Colour
• Density
• Boiling Points
• Melting Points
Answer: Boiling Points
The process used to separate petroleum into useful fractions like petrol, diesel, etc., is called fractional distillation. It works because each component has a different boiling point.
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Q9. ** Which petroleum product is used as fuel for heavy motor vehicles and in electric generators?
• Petrol
• Kerosene
• Diesel
• LPG
Answer: Diesel
Diesel has a higher boiling point than petrol and kerosene. It is a fuel for trucks, buses, tractors, railway engines, and power generators.
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Q10. ** Which fuel is used for aviation in jet aircraft?
• Petrol
• Paraffin Wax
• Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF)
• Coal Tar
Answer: Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF)
A specific fraction of petroleum, known as Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) or jet fuel, is used to power jet and turboprop aircraft engines.
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Q11. ** Which petroleum product is used for surfacing roads and waterproofing roofs?
• Lubricating Oil
• Bitumen
• Paraffin Wax
• Naphthalene Balls
Answer: Bitumen
Bitumen is a black, viscous residue left after fractional distillation of petroleum. It is used for road surfacing and making roofing materials waterproof.
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Q12. ** Which of these is NOT a fossil fuel?
• Coal
• Petroleum
• Natural Gas
• Wood
Answer: Wood
Fossil fuels are formed from the dead remains of living organisms over millions of years. Coal, petroleum, and natural gas are fossil fuels, while wood is a renewable resource.
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Q13. ** Natural gas is primarily composed of which hydrocarbon?
• Ethane
• Propane
• Methane
• Butane
Answer: Methane
Natural gas is a fossil fuel found in reservoirs under the earth’s surface. Its major component is methane (CH4), a simple hydrocarbon that burns with a clean blue flame.
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Q14. ** What is the common name for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)?
• LPG
• Kerosene
• Coke Oven Gas
• None of the above
Answer: None of the above
CNG stands for Compressed Natural Gas. It is natural gas (mainly methane) compressed under high pressure. It is a less polluting fuel for vehicles.
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Q15. ** Which resource, often found with petroleum deposits, is used as a starting material for fertilizers?
• Coal Tar
• Petrochemicals
• Natural Gas
• Coke
Answer: Natural Gas
Natural gas is not only a fuel but also an important raw material (feedstock) for the manufacture of fertilizers (like urea) and various chemicals.
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Q16. ** Which of the following is a petrochemical?
• Paraffin Wax
• Diesel
• Plastics
• All of the above
Answer: All of the above
Petrochemicals are substances obtained from petroleum and natural gas. They include plastics, synthetic fibres, dyes, detergents, polythene, and even paraffin wax.
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Q17. ** Why are coal and petroleum referred to as ‘buried sunshine’?
• They are yellow in colour.
• They were formed from plants that stored solar energy.
• They produce light when burned.
• They are found deep underground.
Answer: They were formed from plants that stored solar energy.
Coal was formed from ancient plants that used sunlight for photosynthesis. Petroleum came from ancient marine organisms that ultimately depended on plants. The energy stored in them is ancient solar energy.
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Q18. ** Which industry primarily uses coke as a reducing agent?
• Textile Industry
• Fertilizer Industry
• Steel Industry
• Sugar Industry
Answer: Steel Industry
Coke, due to its high carbon content and strength, is used as a reducing agent to extract iron from its ore in blast furnaces during steel production.
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Q19. ** What is the main reason for advocating the use of CNG over petrol in vehicles?
• It is cheaper.
• It is more readily available.
• It burns more cleanly, causing less pollution.
• Vehicles need less maintenance with it.
Answer: It burns more cleanly, causing less pollution.
CNG produces significantly fewer undesirable gases (like sulphur dioxide) and particulates compared to petrol or diesel, making it a cleaner fuel for the environment.
**
Q20. ** Naphthalene balls, used to repel moths, are derived from:
• Petroleum
• Coal Tar
• Natural Gas
• All of the above
Answer: Coal Tar
Naphthalene is a white crystalline solid obtained from coal tar. It sublimates easily and is used as a moth repellent and in making dyes and resins.
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Q21. ** Which process is used to convert heavy fractions of petroleum into lighter, more useful hydrocarbons?
• Carbonisation
• Distillation
• Refining
• Cracking
Answer: Cracking
Cracking is a petroleum refining process where large, heavy hydrocarbon molecules are broken down into smaller, lighter molecules like petrol, to meet higher demand.
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Q22. ** The slow process of conversion of dead vegetation into coal is called:
• Distillation
• Carbonisation
• Refining
• Cracking
Answer: Carbonisation
Carbonisation is the process by which dead plant matter, under high pressure and temperature over millions of years, slowly converts into coal.
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Q23. ** Which fraction of petroleum is commonly used as a fuel for stoves, lamps, and lanterns?
• Petrol
• Diesel
• Kerosene
• Lubricating Oil
Answer: Kerosene
Kerosene, also known as paraffin, is a medium-weight fraction of petroleum. It is less volatile than petrol and is a common household fuel for cooking and lighting.
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Q24. ** Which substance, obtained from coal tar, is used as a starting material for manufacturing explosives?
• Benzene
• Toluene
• Phenol
• Ammonia
Answer: Toluene
Toluene, a component separated from coal tar, is an important organic solvent and a key starting material in the manufacture of explosives like TNT (trinitrotoluene).
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Q25. ** What does PCRA stand for, an organization that advises on saving fuel?
• Petroleum Conservation Research Association
• Public Coal Resource Authority
• Petroleum and Coal Regulatory Agency
• Primary Conservation Resource Association
Answer: Petroleum Conservation Research Association
PCRA advises people on how to save petrol/diesel while driving through simple habits like driving at a constant moderate speed and ensuring correct tyre pressure.
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Q26. ** In India, the location of the first successful oil well was in:
• Digboi, Assam
• Mumbai High, Maharashtra
• Krishna-Godavari Delta
• Ankleshwar, Gujarat
Answer: Digboi, Assam
Digboi in Assam is historically significant for having one of the oldest continuously producing oil fields in Asia, with the first well drilled in the late 19th century.
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Q27. ** Which of the following is a characteristic of an exhaustible natural resource?
• Unlimited supply
• Renews quickly
• Limited stock in nature
• Cannot be used up
Answer: Limited stock in nature
The defining feature of exhaustible resources like coal and petroleum is that they exist in a limited amount (stock) on Earth. Once used up, they are gone for millions of years.
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Q28. ** Which petroleum product is used as a solvent for dry cleaning?
• Petrol
• Kerosene
• LPG
• Petroleum Ether
Answer: Petroleum Ether
Petroleum ether, a low-boiling fraction of petroleum, is highly volatile and an excellent solvent for fats, oils, and is used in dry cleaning and laboratories.
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Q29. ** What is the main environmental concern associated with burning fossil fuels?
• Land Degradation
• Air Pollution
• Water Scarcity
• Noise Pollution
Answer: Air Pollution
Burning fossil fuels releases harmful gases like carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, and oxides of nitrogen, along with unburnt carbon particles, causing severe air pollution and health issues.
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Q30. ** The main element present in all types of coal is:
• Hydrogen
• Oxygen
• Nitrogen
• Carbon
Answer: Carbon
Coal is primarily composed of carbon, along with varying amounts of hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulphur. The carbon content increases from peat to anthracite.
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Q31. ** Which of these is a use of paraffin wax obtained from petroleum?
• Making candles
• Making Vaseline
• Making ointments
• All of the above
Answer: All of the above
Paraffin wax is used for making candles, wax paper, polishes, and is a key ingredient in Vaseline (petroleum jelly) and various ointments.
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Q32. ** The major offshore oil field in India is:
• Digboi
• Naharkatiya
• Mumbai High
• Kalol
Answer: Mumbai High
Mumbai High is an offshore oil field located in the Arabian Sea, about 160 km off the coast of Mumbai. It is a major source of crude oil for India.
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Q33. ** Which resource is considered a cleaner alternative to coal and petroleum?
• Natural Gas
• Wood
• Charcoal
• Coke
Answer: Natural Gas
Natural gas (and CNG) produces less carbon dioxide per unit of energy and negligible amounts of sulphur dioxide and ash compared to coal and petroleum, making it cleaner.
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Q34. ** Which product is used as a fuel for light motor vehicles like cars and motorcycles?
• Diesel
• Kerosene
• Petrol
• LPG
Answer: Petrol
Petrol (or gasoline) is a highly volatile, low-boiling fraction of petroleum. It vaporizes easily and is the preferred fuel for spark-ignition engines in cars and bikes.
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Q35. ** The impurities present in petroleum after extraction are removed by:
• Carbonisation
• Refining
• Cracking
• Destructive Distillation
Answer: Refining
Crude petroleum extracted from wells contains salt, water, and other impurities. It is refined (cleaned and separated) in a petroleum refinery before use.
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Q36. ** What is the purpose of adding a strong smell (ethyl mercaptan) to LPG?
• To improve combustion
• To increase efficiency
• To detect leaks
• To clean the burner
Answer: To detect leaks
LPG is an odourless gas. A foul-smelling substance called ethyl mercaptan is added to it so that even a small leak from the cylinder can be easily detected by smell, preventing accidents.
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Q37. ** Which of these is NOT obtained from the fractional distillation of petroleum?
• Coal Gas
• Lubricating Oil
• Asphalt
• Fuel Oil
Answer: Coal Gas
Coal Gas is obtained from the destructive distillation of coal, not from petroleum. Lubricating oil, asphalt (bitumen), and fuel oil are all petroleum fractions.
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Q38. ** The full form of LPG is:
• Liquid Petroleum Gas
• Liquefied Petroleum Gas
• Light Petroleum Gas
• Liquid Propane Gas
Answer: Liquefied Petroleum Gas
LPG stands for Liquefied Petroleum Gas. It is a mixture of gases like butane and propane, which are compressed into a liquid state for easy storage and transport in cylinders.
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Q39. ** Why should we use fossil fuels judiciously?
• They are expensive.
• They cause pollution.
• They are limited and non-renewable.
• All of the above.
Answer: All of the above.
We must use fossil fuels judiciously because they are (1) limited and will run out, (2) their combustion causes severe environmental pollution, and (3) they are costly to import.
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Q40. ** Which material, derived from coal tar, is used in making medicines like aspirin?
• Phenol
• Benzene
• Naphthalene
• Toluene
Answer: Phenol
Phenol (carbolic acid), obtained from coal tar, is a vital starting material for the synthesis of various drugs, including aspirin, and also for making plastics and disinfectants.
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Q41. ** In the context of resources, what does ‘conservation’ mean?
• Using more of a resource
• Using a resource wisely to prevent waste
• Finding new deposits of a resource
• Banning the use of a resource
Answer: Using a resource wisely to prevent waste
Conservation of resources like coal and petroleum means using them carefully, avoiding unnecessary consumption, and finding ways to reduce wastage so they last longer.
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Q42. ** Vaseline (petroleum jelly) is a product derived from:
• Coal Tar
• Petroleum
• Natural Gas
• Shale Oil
Answer: Petroleum
Petroleum jelly is a semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons, derived from petroleum. It is used in skincare products, ointments, and as a lubricant.
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Q43. ** What are the tiny marine organisms whose decay led to the formation of petroleum called?
• Dinosaurs
• Plankton
• Algae
• All of the above
Answer: Plankton
Petroleum is believed to have been formed from the remains of tiny sea organisms called plankton (both plants and animals) that lived millions of years ago.
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Q44. ** Which fuel is stored under high pressure as a liquid in cylinders for domestic cooking?
• CNG
• Kerosene
• LPG
• Coal Gas
Answer: LPG
LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) is compressed into a liquid and filled in cylinders. When the valve is opened, it vaporizes and is used as a clean cooking fuel in homes.
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Q45. ** Which of the following is a use of lubricating oil?
• Reducing friction between moving parts
• Preventing rust
• Carrying away heat
• All of the above
Answer: All of the above
Lubricating oil, a high-boiling fraction of petroleum, is used in machines and engines to reduce friction between moving parts, prevent wear and rust, and carry away heat.
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Q46. ** The purest form of coal, with the highest carbon content, is:
• Peat
• Lignite
• Bituminous Coal
• Anthracite
Answer: Anthracite
Anthracite is the hardest and highest rank of coal. It has a very high carbon content (over 87%), burns with little smoke, and produces intense heat.
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Q47. ** Which substance, obtained from coal, is used in the manufacture of steel and in water purification?
• Coke
• Coal Tar
• Coal Gas
• Ammonia
Answer: Coke
Coke is used in blast furnaces to produce iron for steelmaking. It is also sometimes used as a filter medium in water purification plants due to its porosity.
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Q48. ** The term ‘fossil fuel’ is used because these resources are:
• Dug out from the earth.
• Formed from the fossils of ancient plants and animals.
• As old as fossils.
• Found near fossil sites.
Answer: Formed from the fossils of ancient plants and animals.
Coal, petroleum, and natural gas are called fossil fuels because they were formed from the buried, decomposed remains (fossils) of prehistoric plants and animals over geological time.
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Q49. ** Which of these is a step towards conserving petrol/diesel while driving?
• Regular vehicle maintenance
• Switching off the engine at red lights
• Ensuring correct tyre pressure
• All of the above
Answer: All of the above
Simple habits like regular servicing, turning off the engine when stopped, keeping tyres properly inflated, and avoiding sudden acceleration/braking can save a significant amount of fuel.
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Q50. ** Petrochemicals are important because they are used to make:
• Fertilizers
• Synthetic Fibres (like polyester)
• Plastics
• All of the above
Answer: All of the above
Petrochemicals form the backbone of the modern chemical industry. They are essential raw materials for manufacturing fertilizers, synthetic fibres (nylon, polyester), plastics, dyes, detergents, and many other products.