NCERT Class 8 Science Science: Chapter 3 — Coal and Petroleum
This chapter introduces students to natural resources, classifying them into inexhaustible (sunlight, air) and exhaustible (forests, minerals, coal, petroleum, natural gas) categories. It highlights that exhaustible resources are limited and can be depleted by human activities. The chapter delves into coal, describing its properties, uses as a fuel for cooking, trains, power plants, and industries. It explains the formation of coal through a process called carbonisation, which occurred over millions of years from buried dead vegetation under high pressure and temperature. Coal is identified as a fossil fuel, formed from the remains of ancient plants. The text emphasizes the importance of understanding the sustainable use of these finite resources for future generations, using an activity to illustrate consumption patterns.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 8 |
| Subject | Science |
| Book | Science |
| Chapter | Chapter 3 — Coal and Petroleum |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 2 minutes |
| Word count | 235 |
Learning outcomes
- Differentiate between inexhaustible and exhaustible natural resources.
- Understand the formation process of coal from dead vegetation.
- Identify the various uses of coal as a fuel.
- Recognize coal as a fossil fuel formed over millions of years.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Natural Resources | Materials obtained from nature. |
| Inexhaustible Natural Resources | Resources present in unlimited quantity, not depleted by human activities (e.g., sunlight, air). |
| Exhaustible Natural Resources | Resources present in limited quantity, can be depleted by human activities (e.g., coal, petroleum). |
| Fossil Fuel | Fuel formed from the remains of dead organisms (fossils) over millions of years. |
| Carbonisation | The slow process of conversion of dead vegetation into coal under high pressure and temperature. |
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Practice questions
- What are the two types of natural resources based on their availability? Answer: Inexhaustible natural resources and exhaustible natural resources.
- Give examples of inexhaustible natural resources. Answer: Sunlight and air.
- Give examples of exhaustible natural resources. Answer: Forests, wildlife, minerals, coal, petroleum, natural gas.
- What is coal? Answer: Coal is a hard, black-coloured fuel found in nature, formed from buried dead vegetation over millions of years.
- What is the process of conversion of dead plants into coal called? Answer: Carbonisation.
Frequently asked questions
What are natural resources?
Natural resources are materials found in nature that are used by humans for various needs.
What is the difference between inexhaustible and exhaustible natural resources?
Inexhaustible resources are unlimited (like sunlight), while exhaustible resources are limited and can be used up (like coal).
How is coal formed?
Coal is formed from the slow conversion of dead vegetation buried under the earth's surface over millions of years, a process called carbonisation.
What are the main uses of coal?
Coal is used as a fuel for cooking, in railway engines, thermal power plants for electricity generation, and in various industries.
Why is coal called a fossil fuel?
Coal is called a fossil fuel because it is formed from the remains of dead plants (fossils) over millions of years.
What does Activity 3.2 demonstrate about exhaustible resources?
Activity 3.2 demonstrates that if consumption is high in earlier generations, later generations may not have enough of the resource left, highlighting the need for conservation.
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Important topics
Topics covered
NCERT Class 8 Science — Science — Chapter 3 — Coal and Petroleum. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.