ELI5: Why is charcoal so effective in fire places/pits/barbeque stands if the most of the wood/fuel has been used up?

Wood burns in two stages: the hydrogen stage and the carbon stage. In the hydrogen stage, hydrocarbon molecules are broken and oxidise. In the carbon stage, the carbon oxidises.

The carbon stage burning is a hotter and cleaner chemical reaction than hydrogen stage burning.

Charcoal is made by burning wood in the hydrogen stage (hence removing the hydrocarbons) but not allowing the carbon stage (by limiting the amount of oxygen).

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