UPSC Previous Year Question | Prelims GS | 2025

Consider the following substances: I. Ethanol II. Nitroglycerine III. Urea. Coal gasification technology can be used in the production of how many of them?

  1. Only one
  2. Only two
  3. All the three
  4. None

Answer

Correct Answer

Only two

Explanation

Coal gasification produces syngas, which can be used as a feedstock to manufacture ethanol and urea (via ammonia synthesis) through downstream chemical processes. Nitroglycerine, however, is produced through nitration of glycerol and is not derived from coal gasification. Hence two of the three (Ethanol and Urea) can be produced using this route.

Topics: chemistry, coal gasification, science and technology