A traditional term for a char obtained from wood, peat, coal or some related natural organic materials.
Note:
Charcoal has highly reactive inner surfaces and a low sulfur content. It has or has had, therefore, a variety of uses, e.g. in ferrous metallurgy and for gunpowder (minor uses: medical purposes and paint materials).
Source:
PAC, 1995, 67, 473. 'Recommended terminology for the description of carbon as a solid (IUPAC Recommendations 1995)' on page 484 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199567030473)