Class: Senior Secondary School 1 (SS1, SS 1, SSS1, SSS 1)
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 3
Age: 15 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Chemistry
Curriculum Theme: Chemistry
Previous Lesson: Carbon And Its Compounds: Carbon Structure, Allotropes and Combustion.
Topic: CARBON AND ITS COMPOUNDS
Subject Matter: coal types and industrial distillation of coal, uses and products of coal, coke: gasification and uses

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:

Describe different types of coal.
Outline the process of industrial distillation of coal.
Explain the production of coke and its uses in industry.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the economic importance of coal and coke.
Show interest in the industrial processes involving carbon compounds.

Psychomotor Domain:

Sketch a simple diagram of the industrial distillation of coal.
Handle samples of coal and coke safely.

Discuss the environmental considerations related to coal mining and usage.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum for Chemistry.
State Unified Scheme of Work for Senior Secondary Schools.
New School Chemistry for Senior Secondary Schools by Osei Yaw Ababio.
Essential Chemistry for Senior Secondary Schools by O. Y. Ababio.

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Charts showing the formation of coal.
Diagrams illustrating the industrial distillation of coal.
Samples of different coal types (e.g., lignite, bituminous, anthracite).
Samples of coke.
Examples of crude oil fractions such as petrol, diesel and kerosene (for context of fractions).
Shells and fruits (for general carbon compounds context).
Alkanols (for general carbon compounds context).

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand an important natural resource, coal, and its derivative, coke. Knowing about their types, uses, and industrial processing is essential for understanding energy production and raw materials in industries in Nigeria and globally.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils should have a basic understanding of carbon as an element, its allotropes, and its general occurrence in nature. They should also know about simple fuels.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

CARBON AND ITS COMPOUNDS: COAL AND COKE

1. Coal

Coal is a black or brownish-black sedimentary rock that is combustible and formed from dead plant matter over millions of years under high heat and pressure, in the absence of air. It is a major fossil fuel.

The following are the main types of coal, based on their carbon content and age:

Peat: The first stage of coal formation; high moisture content, low carbon.
Lignite: Brown coal; higher carbon than peat, lower heating value.
Bituminous Coal: Black coal; most common type, higher carbon, good heating value.
Anthracite: Hardest coal; highest carbon content, low moisture, high heating value, burns cleanly.

The following are the methods of coal mining:

Surface Mining: Removing overburden to access shallow coal seams.
Underground Mining: Digging tunnels and shafts to reach deep coal seams.

The following are the uses of coal:

Fuel for electricity generation in thermal power plants.
Source of heat for industrial processes and domestic use.
Raw material for producing coke and coal gas.

2. Industrial Distillation of Coal (Destructive Distillation)

Industrial distillation of coal, also known as destructive distillation, is the process of heating coal to high temperatures (about 1000°C) in the absence of air. This breaks down the complex organic compounds in coal into simpler, more useful substances.

The following are the main products obtained from the industrial distillation of coal:

Coke: A solid, porous residue that is almost pure carbon.
Coal Gas: A mixture of combustible gases (e.g., hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide) used as fuel.
Coal Tar: A thick, black, viscous liquid containing various organic compounds, used to produce dyes, drugs, explosives, plastics, and road surfacing materials.
Ammoniacal Liquor: An aqueous solution containing ammonia and ammonium compounds, used in fertilizers.

3. Coke

Coke is a hard, porous, greyish-black solid obtained as the main residue from the destructive distillation of coal. It is mainly composed of carbon.

The following describes the gasification of coke:

Producer Gas: Formed when coke reacts with a limited supply of air at high temperatures (C(s) + O2(g) → CO2(g); CO2(g) + C(s) → 2CO(g)). The main components are carbon monoxide and nitrogen.
Water Gas: Formed when steam is passed over red-hot coke (C(s) + H2O(g) → CO(g) + H2(g)). It is a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

The following are the uses of coke:

As a reducing agent in the extraction of metals (e.g., iron in a blast furnace).
As a fuel, burning with a very hot flame and little smoke.
In the production of producer gas and water gas.
In the manufacture of electrodes.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them to name some common fuels they know (e.g., firewood, kerosene, petrol). The teacher then asks if they know where these fuels come from or if they know of other solid fuels.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond by naming various fuels and may mention coal or charcoal.
Learning Point: Pupils recall prior knowledge of fuels and are prepared for the lesson.

Step 2: Presentation of Topic

Time: 2 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explaining
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the topic “Carbon and Its Compounds: Coal and Coke” and writes it on the board.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and write the topic in their notebooks.
Learning Point: Pupils are aware of the lesson’s focus.

Step 3: Explanation of Coal

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explaining/Illustrating
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher defines coal, explains its formation process, and describes the different types of coal (Peat, Lignite, Bituminous, Anthracite), showing samples or pictures if available. The teacher also mentions mining methods and general uses.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, take notes, and observe the instructional materials.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the nature, types, formation, and uses of coal.

Step 4: Explanation of Industrial Distillation of Coal

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Explaining
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the process of destructive distillation of coal, emphasizing that it occurs in the absence of air. The teacher uses diagrams to illustrate the setup and explains the various products obtained (coke, coal gas, coal tar, ammoniacal liquor) and their uses.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils pay attention to the explanation and diagrams, asking questions for clarification.
Learning Point: Pupils grasp the industrial process of coal distillation and its valuable products.

Step 5: Explanation of Coke and its Uses

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explaining/Questioning
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher defines coke as a product of coal distillation and explains its properties. The teacher then discusses the gasification of coke to produce producer gas and water gas, and enumerates the various industrial uses of coke.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, take notes, and contribute to the discussion on the uses of coke.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the production and versatile applications of coke.

Step 6: Class Discussion/Activity

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Facilitation/Collaboration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher encourages pupils to discuss the economic importance of coal and coke to Nigeria and the environmental implications of coal mining and burning.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils engage in a brief discussion, sharing their thoughts on the benefits and drawbacks.
Learning Point: Pupils develop a broader perspective on the impact of these resources.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

Define coal and mention two of its types.
State three products obtained from the industrial distillation of coal.
Explain briefly what is meant by the destructive distillation of coal.
List three industrial uses of coke.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarizing
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the key points of the lesson, reiterating the importance of coal and coke. The teacher then assigns homework: “Draw a labelled diagram of the industrial distillation of coal.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy the homework.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning and are given an activity to reinforce knowledge.

Lesson Keywords

Coal – A combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock, formed from dead plant matter.
Coke – A hard, porous, greyish-black solid residue obtained from the destructive distillation of coal.
Destructive Distillation – The process of heating a substance in the absence of air to break it down into simpler substances.
Coal Gas – A mixture of combustible gases produced during coal distillation.
Coal Tar – A thick, black, viscous liquid, a product of coal distillation, used in various industries.
Gasification – The process of converting carbon-containing materials into syngas (producer gas or water gas) by reacting with steam or air.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp concepts quickly, the teacher can encourage them to research the chemical composition of coal tar and its diverse applications. For those needing more support, the teacher can provide simplified diagrams and allow peer-tutoring or focused small-group discussions to reinforce understanding of the distillation process and product identification.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Ensure that actual samples of coal and coke are available for pupils to observe and handle, as this enhances tactile learning. If a full demonstration of distillation is not feasible, use clear charts and video clips to illustrate the process. Emphasize safety precautions if handling materials like coal tar or discussing industrial processes.