1. The destructive distillation of coal can be carried out in the laboratories.
2. Finely powdered coal is taken in a test tube and heated. At a particular temperature, coal breaks down to produce coke, coal tar, ammonia and coal gas.
- Coal tar is deposited at the bottom of the second test tube and coal gas escapes out through the side tube.
- Ammonia produced is absorbed in the water, forming ammonium hydroxide.
- Finally, a black residue called coke is left in the first tube.
