Activated carbon is a superstar at one thing: adsorption. It grabs chlorine, volatile organic compounds, and those funky smells that make your morning shower smell like a municipal pool.
But calcium and magnesium? They are minerals, not organic chemicals. Carbon is basically a sponge for smells, not a magnet for rock-like ions. Think of it like this: a carbon filter is a bouncer at a club for smells; calcium and magnesium are the VIPs that walk right past.
In fact, the hardness minerals (calcium carbonate and magnesium sulfate) are positively charged and tiny. They slip through the carbon’s microscopic pores like a hot knife through butter. No chemistry magic happens.
