Question

Show how the destructive distillation of wood can be carried out on a small scale. What are the products formed?

Answer 1

Destructive distillation:

• It involves heating a substance in the absence of air in order to break larger molecules into smaller ones.
• Certain compounds distill throughout the process and can be collected. Charcoal is made from wood.

Wood charcoal:

• Wood charcoal is made by distilling wood in a damaging manner.
• The decomposition of wood by heating to a temperature of 450°–550°C in the absence of air.
• A mixture of gases and vapors forms, with charcoal as a byproduct.
• The flammable mixture of gases $({\mathrm{CO}}_2,\mathrm{CO},{\mathrm{CH}}_4,\mathrm{and}{\mathrm{H}}_2)$ is known as wood gas.
• When the vapors are condensed, they divide into tar and liquid. Pyroligneous acid is a liquid that comprises organic molecules.
• In the laboratory, the destructive distillation of wood can be done on a limited scale.

Destructive distillation of coal:

• Also, It is used in coal refining.
• When coal is burned in the absence of air, it produces a variety of products.
• The major products are coke, coal tar, and coal gas.