Question

Why is charcoal considered to be a better fuel than wood?

Answer 1

Hint: Charcoal has a low ignition temperature, produces less smoke and has a higher calorific value as compared to wood. Due to its high surface area, it can be used as a filter, catalyst and as an adsorbent. It has multiple applications over wood.

Complete step-by-step answer:
Charcoal is a light weight residue of black carbon which is produced by heating wood very strongly in order to remove water and other volatile constituents. Charcoal is about one-third of the weight of wood. Once heated it produces instant heat whereas wood will retain some level of moisture which will undergo evaporation before full combustion can occur.
Charcoal lasts longer than wood when wood gets heated it burns into ashes. Charcoal on heating remains hot and it is easy to cook with it. Apparently, charcoal is made from wood but is more favourable than it. This results in a much lighter, relatively compact, more energetic and much clean burning fuel i.e., charcoal.
One of the advantages of charcoal over wood is that it has higher heat generating efficiency i.e., higher calorific value. Secondly, it does not produce smoke on burning, so it can be called clean fuel. It is also easier to transport and ready to be used in any convenient dry or broken-up form. Charcoal is less expensive and more consistent in size than wood. Its chimneys are used, with ventilation holes that are designed to help portion and light charcoal.

Hence, charcoal is considered to be a better fuel than wood.

Note: When compared to charcoal, cooking wood offers a much better flavour. Charcoal, once it reaches its peak temperature it starts to cool quite quickly. Cheap charcoal contains a lot of unusable small pieces and dust that is quite dirty.