In this analogy from basic general science, Wood is converted into Charcoal. In the same pattern Coal is converted into which product?

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: Coke

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to the analogy type in aptitude tests and also uses knowledge from basic chemistry and general science. The pair Wood : Charcoal describes a familiar industrial transformation. Wood, when heated strongly in limited air, is converted to Charcoal. In the second pair, Coal is given and the task is to identify the main product that stands in the same relationship, commonly introduced in school level chemistry. Understanding the processes of destructive distillation and carbon based fuel processing helps in solving this question accurately.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Wood can be processed by heating in limited supply of air to produce Charcoal.
  • The analogy expects a similar relation between Coal and its processed product.
  • The answer choices are Fire, Smoke, Coke, and Ash.
  • We assume standard chemistry facts about coal processing from school textbooks.


Concept / Approach:
The analogy is based on the process of destructive distillation. When wood is heated in the absence or near absence of air, volatile substances escape and the residue is Charcoal, a nearly pure form of carbon used as fuel. Coal, when similarly subjected to destructive distillation in industries, yields a solid residue known as Coke along with several by products such as coal gas and coal tar. Coke is a very important fuel in metallurgical processes, especially in blast furnaces for iron extraction. Recognising that Wood relates to Charcoal and Coal relates to Coke allows us to complete the analogy correctly.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Interpret Wood : Charcoal as a raw material and the solid carbon product formed by heating. Step 2: Remember that Wood gives Charcoal after destructive distillation. Step 3: Apply the same idea to Coal. When Coal is destructively distilled in industries, it produces a solid residue. Step 4: Recall that this solid residue is called Coke, which is used as a fuel and as a reducing agent in blast furnaces. Step 5: Compare this with the options and select Coke, since it matches the required relationship.


Verification / Alternative check:
To double check, we can recall the list of products obtained from Coal in standard chemistry chapters. The three main products are Coke, coal tar, and coal gas. Fire and Smoke are more like phenomena of burning, not stable products from destructive distillation. Ash is the non combustible residue left after complete burning of fuel in air, not the desired industrial product similar to Charcoal. Both Charcoal and Coke are porous, almost pure carbon fuels that result from heating carbonaceous materials in limited oxygen. Therefore selecting Coke maintains a parallel relationship with the first pair and verifies the correctness of the answer.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Fire: Fire is a visible effect of combustion and is not a distinct substance or industrial product. It does not correspond to the way Charcoal relates to Wood.
Smoke: Smoke is a mixture of gases and fine particles produced during incomplete combustion, not a solid processed product like Charcoal or Coke.
Ash: Ash is what remains after complete burning of fuel, but the analogy focuses on useful carbon products obtained by controlled heating, not on waste residue.


Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse burning with destructive distillation and may choose Fire or Ash because they are commonly seen when coal is burned. Another pitfall is to treat Smoke as a product, forgetting that the analogy compares solid fuels derived from raw materials. Remember that Charcoal and Coke both serve as fuel and reducing agents and come from similar processing of different raw materials. Keeping this scientific context in mind prevents confusion and guides you towards the correct option Coke.


Final Answer:
Wood is converted into Charcoal, and in a similar industrial process Coal is converted into Coke, so the correct option is Coke.

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