What process is used to remove practically all tastes and odors from water when sufficient amounts of activated carbon are applied?

The correct answer is that adsorption is the process used to remove practically all tastes and odors from water when sufficient amounts of activated carbon are applied.

In the context of water treatment, adsorption refers to the adhesion of molecules from a gas or liquid to the surface of a solid, in this case, activated carbon. Activated carbon has a highly porous structure and a large surface area, which allows it to trap and hold various contaminants, including organic compounds that can contribute to tastes and odors. As water passes through activated carbon, the contaminants adhere to its surface, effectively removing them from the water and improving its quality.

This process is especially effective for impurities because of the nature of activated carbon, which provides a vast number of sites for molecules to cling to, thus purifying the water. The efficiency of this method in removing tastes and odors is one reason why activated carbon is frequently used in water treatment systems.

Other processes mentioned, such as oxidation, deal with breaking down or neutralizing contaminants through chemical reactions, while absorption would involve one substance integrating into another, which is not what occurs in this case. Polymerization, on the other hand, involves the combination of small molecules to form larger ones, which does not apply to the removal of tastes and odors from water