Question

Why does wood charcoal float in water, although it is heavier than water?

Answer 1

• Any substance which has less density than water will float on it whereas a substance which has more density than water will sink in water.
• Wood charcoal is black, porous and brittle solid formed by the destructive distillation of wood.
• Destructive distillation is a process of heating organic matter in the absence of oxygen.
• Wood charcoal is heavier than water yet it floats on water because of the presence of gas molecules trapped inside the pores of the wood charcoal.
• These gas molecules make it lighter and allow it to float on water.
• It can be proved by the fact that when a piece of wood charcoal is added to the boiling water, the gas escapes from the pores because of the high temperature. Due to this, the piece of wood charcoal will now sink and settle at the bottom of the container.