Chemical Forums

Chemistry Forums for Students => Inorganic Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: Zensation on February 19, 2014, 04:23:34 PM

Title: How does activated charcoal/carbon work and how can one determine absorbants?
Post by: Zensation on February 19, 2014, 04:23:34 PM
It is known activated charcoal is used in air filters, but what exactly can be absorbed? Wiki says things like strong acids and bases can't be absorbed... but what about things like Toluene, Acetone, Isopropyl Alcohol, Dichloromethane, and these sorts of things? How exactly does the activated charcoal chemically react with other compounds?
Title: Re: How does activated charcoal/carbon work and how can one determine absorbants?
Post by: Arkcon on February 19, 2014, 08:24:16 PM
Briefly, the chemicals you list won't be appreciably absorbed by carbon.  Things with multiple aromatic groups are absorbed, the aromatic rings of the absorbed compound are loosely attracted to the pi bonds of the carbon rings.  And there's so much surface area in activated carbon, that adds up to significant absorption.  Try to study the wiki article on the subject a bit more, and see if it all comes together for you.