In water treatment, what role does carbon play?

Carbon plays a crucial role in water treatment, especially in the form of activated carbon. Its primary function in this context is to adsorb impurities, including tastes and odors, from water. This process occurs because activated carbon has a large surface area and porous structure, allowing it to trap organic compounds, chlorine, and other substances responsible for unpleasant tastes and smells.

While options like killing bacteria, filtering solids, and adding oxygen are important in water treatment, they are not the primary role of carbon. Other materials or processes specifically target those functions—such as chlorine for disinfection, sand filters for solid removal, and aeration for oxygenation. In summary, carbon's effectiveness in adsorbing impurities makes it an essential component for enhancing the sensory quality of drinking water by removing undesirable tastes and odors.