Kinetic data show that the pyrolysis reactions of hard coal may be interpreted in terms of parallel first order reactions, relating to the coal functional groups which can be considered as predecessors of the pyrolysis products. This relation is confirmed by C-, H-and O-balances of pyrolysis products and those of the corresponding predecessor structural groups of the coal. The activation energies measured are of the same order of magnitude as the bonding energies of bridge C-C bonds between the aromatic ringsystems in the coal molecule. These observations suggest a mechanism of coal pyrolysis, consisting of the following steps: rupture of C-C bridges; formation of radical groups; and recombination of radicals to stable molecules part of which, i.e., those of low molecular weight, diffuse out of the solid matter whereas the rest (whose diffusion in the pore system of the solid is prevented due to their higher molecular weight) react with each other at higher temperatures to give coke, releasing elementary hydrogen. In the presence of hydrogen >5Oo'C, additional reactions of partial hydrogenation of polynuclear aromatics with subsequent hydrocracking will occur, leading to increased formation of highly aromatic tar, BTX, CH, and H,O.