In order to obtain an insight into the chemical structure of Zao Zhuang coal, two chemical reactions of the coal, cleavage reaction of ether bonds in the coal with SiCl_4-NaI and oxidation with RuO_4, were carried out. On the basis of the analytical data for the original coal and the reaction products, a structural model for Zao Zhuang coal was proposed and it was also evaluated by using computer simulation technique.
