Among solid fossil fuels, coal has the highest carbon content.

Among solid fossil fuels, coal has the highest carbon content.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. It has the lowest carbon content
• D. It has no carbon content

Answer: (A)

The question tests how carbon content varies among fossil fuels and why coal can stand out among solids. Carbon content by mass depends on the fuel’s rank or type: the more heat and pressure that coal has endured, the more volatile matter and moisture are driven off, leaving a larger share of fixed carbon. Among solid fuels, high-rank coal such as anthracite has the highest carbon content, typically around the 90%+ range by weight. Bituminous coal is a bit lower, and lignite is lower still. For comparison, crude oil is roughly 85–87% carbon, while natural gas (mostly methane) is about 75% carbon by mass. So, when you focus on solid fossil fuels, coal—with its high-rank varieties—often contains the most carbon by mass, which also explains why it can yield more CO2 per unit of energy than oil or natural gas.

The question tests how carbon content varies among fossil fuels and why coal can stand out among solids. Carbon content by mass depends on the fuel’s rank or type: the more heat and pressure that coal has endured, the more volatile matter and moisture are driven off, leaving a larger share of fixed carbon. Among solid fuels, high-rank coal such as anthracite has the highest carbon content, typically around the 90%+ range by weight. Bituminous coal is a bit lower, and lignite is lower still. For comparison, crude oil is roughly 85–87% carbon, while natural gas (mostly methane) is about 75% carbon by mass. So, when you focus on solid fossil fuels, coal—with its high-rank varieties—often contains the most carbon by mass, which also explains why it can yield more CO2 per unit of energy than oil or natural gas.