Activated charcoal

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Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal (pronunciation: ak-ti-vay-ted char-coal), also known as activated carbon, is a form of carbon processed to have small, low-volume pores that increase the surface area available for adsorption or chemical reactions. The term "activated" is used to describe the process of treating the charcoal to open up its carbon structure and increase its surface area.

Etymology

The term "activated charcoal" comes from the process of "activation" that the charcoal undergoes to increase its adsorptive properties. The word "charcoal" is derived from the Old English "charren", meaning to turn, and "cole", meaning coal.

Uses

Activated charcoal is used in a variety of applications, including gas purification, water purification, decaffeination, gold purification, metal extraction, medicine, sewage treatment, air filters in gas masks and respirators, and many other applications.

In medicine, activated charcoal is used in emergency treatment for certain kinds of poisoning and overdoses, to interrupt the absorption of the toxin in the stomach. It is also used in certain cases of gastroenterology for diagnostic procedures.

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