The radical population of Wyodak coal was decreased by reaction with the reducing agents SmI2, YbI2, and CrCl2. The latter is the most effective, removing 67% of the radicals. It is also the easiest to prepare. The swelling of Wyodak coal in toluene, THF, and pyridine is independent of the coal's radical population demonstrating that radical sites are not responsible for intermolecular associative interactions.