Final answer:
The statement is true; coal can indeed be converted into synthetic natural gas via gasification, which removes sulfur and produces a clean-burning gas mixture known as syngas.
Step-by-step explanation:
Solid coal can be converted into synthetic natural gas through a process known as gasification. The statement that coal can be converted into synthetic natural gas by removing sulfur and other impurities in this process is true. Gasification involves reacting coal with steam to produce a mixture of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2), which is referred to as synthesis gas, or syngas.
The chemical reaction for this process can be represented as: C(s) + H2O(g) → CO(g) + H2(g), with a change in enthalpy (ΔH) of 131 kJ. This conversion dramatically reduces the amount of sulfur present and results in a cleaner-burning gas mixture. Furthermore, syngas is versatile and can be used as a reactant to produce other valuable products such as methane and methanol.