Charcoal

Charcoal is the blackish residue consisting of impure carbon obtained by

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removing water and other volatile constituents of animal and vegetable substances.

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It is usually produced by heating wood in the absence of oxygen (see char), but sugar

Related Topics:
Wood - Oxygen - Char

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charcoal, bone charcoal (which contains a great amount of calcium phosphate),

Related Topics:
Bone char - Calcium - Phosphate

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and others can be produced as well.

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The light, black, porous material is 85% to 98% carbon, and resembles coal.

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The first part of the word is of obscure origin.

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The independent use of "char", meaning to scorch, to reduce to carbon, is

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comparatively recent and must be a back-formation from the earlier charcoal.

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It may be a use of the word charren, meaning to turn, i.e., wood changed or

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turned to coal; or it may be from the French charbon. A person who manufactured charcoal was formerly known as a collier, though the term was used later for those who dealt in coal.

Related Topics:
Collier - Coal

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