Yes coal gas was a mixture of several gases. The first was from distilled solid coal in externally heated closed retorts, largely hydrocarbons of various types. The leftover coke was then subjected to two processes, one exothermic (giving out heat) which further heated the hot coke by blowing air through it to partially burn it producing carbon monoxide, and then blowing steam through the hot coke, cooling it in the process, making "water gas" which was a mixture of CO2 and hydrogen. The CO2 was removed with lime, leaving a good inflammable mixture although very poisonous. A nasty smell was added to warn you of escapes. It was distributed at very low pressure, so leakage of the hydrogen was not too serious, but there were sometimes explosions, probably because hydrogen in air ignites very easily from any size of spark or even hot surfaces.
Yes coal gas was a mixture of several gases. The first was from distilled solid coal in externally heated closed retorts, largely hydrocarbons of various types. The leftover coke was then subjected to two processes, one exothermic (giving out heat) which further heated the hot coke by blowing air through it to partially burn it producing carbon monoxide, and then blowing steam through the hot coke, cooling it in the process, making "water gas" which was a mixture of CO2 and hydrogen. The CO2 was removed with lime, leaving a good inflammable mixture although very poisonous. A nasty smell was added to warn you of escapes. It was distributed at very low pressure, so leakage of the hydrogen was not too serious, but there were sometimes explosions, probably because hydrogen in air ignites very easily from any size of spark or even hot surfaces.
