How Does Activated Charcoal Work?
Activated charcoal is a form of carbon that has been treated with oxygen to make it highly absorbent. This substance is used for a wide variety of applications, from water filtration to medicine. But how does activated charcoal work? Read on to find out.
Step 1: Adsorption.
The first step in understanding how activated charcoal works is to remember that it absorbs substances, not adsorbs them. Adsorption is the process by which a substance sticks to the surface of another substance. On the other hand, absorption is the process by which a substance is taken into the body or is soaked up by another substance.
Step 2: Attraction.
Activated charcoal has a negative electrical charge, which means that it attracts positively charged molecules. This is because opposite charges attract each other, similar to the way that a magnet attracts metal. The surface of activated charcoal is also covered with tiny pores that increase the surface area available for attracting molecules.
Step 3: Trapping.
When a molecule comes into contact with activated charcoal, it becomes trapped in one of the tiny pores. This is because the attractive forces between the molecule and the charcoal surface are stronger than the attractive forces between the molecule and other molecules in the surrounding environment. The molecule is then held in place by the surrounding charcoal molecules.
Step 4: Neutralization.
Activated charcoal can also be used to neutralize toxins and chemicals in the body. For example, if someone has ingested poison, activated charcoal can be given to prevent the chemicals from being absorbed into the bloodstream. The toxins are trapped by the activated charcoal and safely removed from the body through the digestive system.
Step 5: Filtering.
Finally, activated charcoal can also be used for water filtration. In this application, the charcoal acts as a filter by trapping impurities such as chlorine, pesticides, and organic compounds. The water is then safe to drink because the harmful substances have been filtered out.
Conclusion.
Activated charcoal works by adsorbing molecules through attraction, trapping them in tiny pores, and neutralizing toxins in the body. It can also be used as a filter to remove impurities from water. This substance has many useful applications and is an important tool for removing harmful substances from the environment.
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