Charcoal is the blackish residue consisting of impure carbon obtained byremoving water and other volatile constituents of animal and vegetable substances.It is usually produced by heating wood in the absence of oxygen (see char), but sugarcharcoal, bone charcoal (which contains a great amount of calcium phosphate),and others can be produced as well.The light, black, porous material is 85% to 98% carbon, and resembles coal.