Which one of the following has the highest fuel value?
Reviewed by Dalvoy
UPSC Civil Services preparation
- AHydrogenCorrect
- BCharcoal
- CNatural Gas
- DGasoline
Explanation
The fuel value of a substance, also known as its calorific value, refers to the amount of heat energy produced during the complete combustion of a unit mass of that fuel.
Hydrogen has the highest fuel value among all known fuels. It releases approximately 150 kilojoules of energy per gram. In comparison, gasoline, natural gas (methane), and charcoal produce significantly less energy per unit mass. For example, natural gas produces about 50 to 55 kilojoules per gram, while gasoline produces about 45 to 48 kilojoules per gram.
Because of its exceptionally high energy density and the fact that it burns cleanly to produce only water vapor, hydrogen is used as a primary fuel in high-performance applications like space rocket propulsion.

Related questions
More UPSC Prelims practice from the same subject and topic.
- Prelims 1997GS1science-and-technology
Which one of the following was used as a chemical weapon in the First World War?
- Prelims 1997GS1science-and-technology
The tendency of a liquid drop to contract and occupy minimum area is due to
- Prelims 1997GS1science-and-technology
Which one of the following is a vector quantity?
- Prelims 1997GS1science-and-technology
The working principle of a washing machine is
- Prelims 1997GS1science-and-technology
The characteristic odour of garlic is due to
- Prelims 1997GS1science-and-technology
Which one of the following is an active component of oil of clove?