Coal is thick ,solid in black colour with decomposed dead plants and animals
charcoal is light in weight ,black in colour and remains of burnt of log fire

Coal vs. Charcoal

Composition:
- Coal is a fossil fuel formed from the remains of plants that lived and died millions of years ago. It is primarily made up of carbon, with small amounts of hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen.
- Charcoal, on the other hand, is made by burning wood in the absence of oxygen. This process removes water, volatile compounds, and impurities, leaving behind mostly carbon.

Formation:
- Coal is formed over millions of years through geological processes such as pressure and heat acting on plant matter.
- Charcoal is made through a more immediate process of burning wood in a controlled environment.

Usage:
- Coal is primarily used as a fuel for power generation, industrial processes, and heating.
- Charcoal is commonly used for cooking (barbecues), art (drawing), and as a filtering agent.

Properties:
- Coal is a black, hard substance that is mined from the earth in large quantities.
- Charcoal is lightweight, black, porous, and can easily be crushed into smaller pieces.

Environmental Impact:
- Coal combustion releases greenhouse gases and other pollutants that contribute to climate change and air pollution.
- Charcoal production can lead to deforestation if not sourced sustainably, but burning charcoal itself produces less pollution compared to coal.
In conclusion, while both coal and charcoal are carbon-based fuels, they differ in their composition, formation, usage, properties, and environmental impact. Understanding these distinctions can help in making more informed choices about their utilization.