Question

What are the different types of coal?

Answer 1

1. Coal is a fossil fuel. It contains carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. It also contains nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur. It occurs in the solid state.
2. Coal is classified on the basis of its carbon content into:
   1. Peat: It has a high water content and less than 60% carbon content.
   2. Lignite: Lignite is a transformed form of peat and has around 60 to 70% of carbon content.
   3. Bituminous: It is the most commonly found variety of coal in India is bituminous and has a carbon content of 70-90%.
   4. Anthracite: It has a carbon content of more than 95% which makes it suitable for iron smelting.