Eli5 – what “activates” charcoal? And how does that make it good for you?

Question

Eli5 – what “activates” charcoal? And how does that make it good for you?

In: 31

Answer 1

Charcoal is porous, but stuff like salt and other soluble elements are still in the charcoal. Activated means they blast steam through it to dissolve and remove these extra materials, thus making it more porous on the atomic level.

I make poor mans version of ‘activated’ charcoal, by boiling it instead of steam, because I do not have a industrial facility to steam it.