---
title: "Bitumen versus tar"
subject: "Civil Engineering Materials"
chapter: 10
key: "semester_3/civil_engineering_materials:bitumen-vs-tar"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_3/civil_engineering_materials/bitumen-vs-tar
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Bitumen versus tar

Civil Engineering Materials · Chapter 10: Asphalt, Bitumen, Tar and Miscellaneous Materials

- Asked in: 2081 Kartik (new course), 2 marks; 2074 Chaitra, 2 marks (asked 2 times)
- Video: [Difference between Bitumen & Tar | Highway Engineering #4| Civil Engineering Concepts| Kamalakar Sir](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dr6mWEpWmm8) — Utkarsh Engineers Classes
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_3/civil_engineering_materials/bitumen-vs-tar
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_3/civil_engineering_materials/chapter-10

## Question

Compare between bitumen and tar.

## Short answer

Bitumen, a petroleum residue, has low temperature susceptibility and good durability, used as road binder and waterproofing. Tar, from coal/wood destructive distillation, is more brittle in cold, weathers faster, and is cheaper, used for priming, surface dressing and wood preservation.

## Answer

**Bitumen** is a black, sticky, hydrocarbon binder obtained from refining petroleum or from natural deposits. **Tar** is a dark viscous liquid obtained from destructive distillation of coal, wood or similar organic matter.

| Point | Bitumen | Tar |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Petroleum refining residue or natural | Coal, wood or peat by destructive distillation |
| Chemical nature | Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons | Mainly aromatic hydrocarbons and phenols |
| Solubility | Soluble in carbon disulphide, carbon tetrachloride | Soluble in toluene, benzene (not fully in petroleum) |
| Temperature susceptibility | Low | High; becomes brittle in cold |
| Durability | Longer | Shorter; weathers faster |
| Adhesion | Good | Good, but weaker with ageing |
| Smell and health | Mild | Pungent and harmful |
| Setting and cost | Slower setting, costlier | Quick, cheaper |
| Uses | Highway surfacing, waterproofing, felt | Priming, surface dressing, wood and pipe preservative |

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Where does bitumen come from?
   A. Petroleum refining residue or natural deposits
   B. Coal distillation
   C. Wood only
   D. Limestone
   Answer: A. Bitumen is petroleum residue or natural; tar is from coal, wood or peat. (Key point: Source)

2. Which is more durable?
   A. Tar
   B. Equal
   C. Bitumen
   D. Neither
   Answer: C. Bitumen lasts longer; tar weathers faster. (Key point: Durability)

3. Tar is mainly what?
   A. Aliphatic hydrocarbons
   B. Aromatic hydrocarbons and phenols
   C. Pure carbon
   D. Silicates
   Answer: B. Tar is mainly aromatic hydrocarbons and phenols. (Key point: Chemical nature)

## Related in Civil Engineering Materials

- [Compare asphalt, bitumen and tar](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Aasphalt-bitumen-tar-comparison) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 10, asked 2×
- [Define asphalt, bitumen and tar](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Adefine-asphalt-bitumen-tar) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 10, asked 2×
- [Define bitumen and tar](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Adefine-bitumen-tar) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 10
- [Uses of asphalt, bitumen, tar](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Auses-asphalt-bitumen-tar) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 10
- [Asphalt versus tar](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Aasphalt-vs-tar) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 10, asked 3×
- [Asphalt versus bitumen](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Aasphalt-vs-bitumen) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 10, asked 4×

## Related in other subjects

- [Types of bitumen and bituminous materials](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Ftransportation_engineering_i%3Abitumen-types) — Transportation Engineering I, chapter 6, asked 6×