Chalk vs. Crayon — What's the Difference?

A soft white limestone used for writing on blackboards.

A stick of colored wax used for drawing.

Available in various colors for drawing on sidewalks.

Available in a wide range of colors.

Ground into powder for gymnastics or rock climbing to improve grip.

Can be used to create rubbings by laying paper over a textured surface.

Used for temporary markings on fabric or construction sites.

Non-toxic and safe for children's use.

Can be used to adjust soil pH.

Meltable for art projects.

Chalk is a soft, white, porous, sedimentary carbonate rock, a form of limestone composed of the mineral calcite and originally formed deep under the sea by the compression of microscopic plankton which had fallen to the sea floor. Chalk is common throughout Western Europe, where deposits underlie parts of France, and steep cliffs are often seen where they meet the sea in places such as the Dover cliffs on the Kent coast of the English Channel.

A crayon (or wax pastel) is a stick of pigmented wax used for writing or drawing. Wax crayons differ from pastels, in which the pigment is mixed with a dry binder such as gum arabic, and from oil pastels, where the binder is a mixture of wax and oil.

A white soft earthy limestone (calcium carbonate) formed from the skeletal remains of sea creatures.

A stick of colored wax, charcoal, or chalk, used for drawing.

Short for French chalk

A drawing made with one of these sticks.

Write or draw with chalk

To draw, color, or decorate with a stick of colored wax, charcoal, or chalk.

Charge (drinks bought in a pub or bar) to a person's account

A stick of colored chalk or wax used for drawing.

A soft compact calcite, CaCO3, with varying amounts of silica, quartz, feldspar, or other mineral impurities, generally gray-white or yellow-white and derived chiefly from fossil seashells.

A colored pencil, a colouring pencil

A piece of chalk or chalklike substance in crayon form, used for marking on a blackboard or other surface.

(dated) A crayon drawing, or a drawing with colored lines.

(Games) A small cube of chalk used in rubbing the tip of a billiard or pool cue to increase its friction with the cue ball.

(dated) A pencil of carbon used in producing electric light.

A mark made with chalk.

(ambitransitive) To draw with a crayon.

Chiefly British A score or tally.

An implement for drawing, made of clay and plumbago, or of some preparation of chalk, usually sold in small prisms or cylinders.

To mark, draw, or write with chalk

A crayon drawing.

To rub or cover with chalk, as the tip of a billiard cue.

A pencil of carbon used in producing electric light.

To make pale; whiten.

To sketch, as with a crayon; to sketch or plan.

To treat (soil, for example) with chalk.

Writing implement consisting of a colored stick of composition wax used for writing and drawing

(uncountable) A soft, white, powdery limestone (calcium carbonate, CaCO3).

Write, draw, or trace with a crayon

(countable) A piece of chalk, or nowadays processed compressed gypsum (calcium sulfate, CaSO4), that is used for drawing and for writing on a blackboard (chalkboard).

Tailor's chalk.

A white powdery substance used to prevent hands slipping from holds when climbing, or losing grip in weight-lifting or gymnastics, sometimes but not always limestone-chalk, often magnesium carbonate (MgCO3).

A platoon-sized group of airborne soldiers.

The favorite in a sporting event.

The prediction that there will be no upsets, and the favored competitor will win.

To apply chalk to anything, such as the tip of a billiard cue.

To record something, as on a blackboard, using chalk.

To use powdered chalk to mark the lines on a playing field.

(figuratively) To record a score or event, as if on a chalkboard.

To manure (land) with chalk.

To make white, as if with chalk; to make pale; to bleach.

A soft, earthy substance, of a white, grayish, or yellowish white color, consisting of calcium carbonate, and having the same composition as common limestone.

Finely prepared chalk, used as a drawing implement; also, by extension, a compound, as of clay and black lead, or the like, used in the same manner. See Crayon.

To rub or mark with chalk.

To manure with chalk, as land.

To make white, as with chalk; to make pale; to bleach.

A soft whitish calcite

A pure flat white with little reflectance

Amphetamine used in the form of a crystalline hydrochloride; used as a stimulant to the nervous system and as an appetite suppressant

A piece of chalk (or similar substance) used for writing on blackboards or other surfaces

Write, draw, or trace with chalk

Chalk can be used by any age for various purposes, while crayons are particularly popular among young children for art.

Chalk is made from calcium carbonate, while crayons are made from paraffin wax and colored pigments.

Chalk is suitable for blackboards, whereas crayons are not effective on such surfaces.

Both are generally safe, but it is important to use non-toxic crayons to ensure children's safety.

Chalk is easily washable and often used outdoors; crayons are less washable and more suited to permanent applications.

Chalk tends to be more environmentally friendly due to its natural composition and biodegradability.

Crayons are not typically used for marking on fabric as they are permanent and can stain.

Crayon marks can be removed from walls using a damp cloth and baking soda or specific cleaning products.

Chalk should be kept dry to avoid clumping, while crayons should be stored away from heat to prevent melting.

Chalk has a dusty, powdery texture, whereas crayons are smooth and waxy.

Chalk can be used for creating art on sidewalks, for sports field markings, and even in DIY crafts.

Both chalk and crayons are generally affordable, but the cost can vary based on the brand and quality.

Crayons typically offer a wider range of vibrant colors compared to the more limited shades of chalk.

Yes, chalk is ideal for outdoor art, especially for temporary designs on sidewalks.

Yes, crayons can be used on various surfaces including cardboard and craft wood, though they perform best on paper.