Burning charcoal

Question

The charcoal that was burned in a grill left only a fine, light ash. The ash weighs significantly less than the charcoal before being burned. What happened to the extra mass?

Answer 1

After the complex molecules are broken up, the carbon is oxidized to CO2 and and hydrogen to H2O (steam) and Nitrogen to NOx and Sulfur to SO2 and SO3 (all gases). Soot is the carbon that is not fully oxidized. Amazingly enough, the ash is made up of all the oxidized metals in the wood (solids).