How to Make Distilled Water

Introduction

Distilled water, despite its complex-sounding name, is simply water that has undergone the process of boiling, turning into steam, and then condensing back into liquid form in a separate container.

It's easy to learn and takes very little time to manufacture distilled water. Using the things you already have in your kitchen, you can accomplish it at home.

This type of water is great for a multitude of purposes, such as filling your iron or watering delicate plants. It may also be used to generate crystal-clear ice cubes, and it has many industrial and medicinal uses. Let's know the fundamentals of making clean, distilled water from tap water.

Distilled Water

One type of purified water that is produced by distillation is called distilled water. This procedure successfully gets rid of pollutants, minerals, and other impurities. To distil water, it is heated until it becomes steam, leaving behind dissolved substances like salts, minerals, and organic and inorganic materials. Pollutants that are still present in the boiling chamber are released from the steam as it rises. After being cooled in a different chamber, the steam condenses back into a liquid condition.

The liquid that is left behind is called distilled water, and it is incredibly pure with very little dissolved minerals or other materials. This high level of purity makes distilled water particularly valuable in situations where impurities could disrupt processes or harm equipment, such as in scientific labs, medical settings, automotive cooling systems, and certain industrial processes.

Drinking 'Pure' Water

Drinking distilled water is safe, but it lacks the minerals that give regular drinking water its unique taste. It's important to note that our bodies need essential minerals like calcium and magnesium, which we mainly get from our food.

Materials Required for Water Distillation

Want to create your own distilled water at home? Here's a list of what you'll require.

• Heat Source: A stove or any other dependable heat source for heating water.
• Large Pot: You'll need a pot that can hold 3 to 5 gallons (11.4 to 19 litres) of water. Make sure it's deep enough to accommodate a good amount of water, with some space left at the top.
• Lid for the Large Pot: The big pot needs a lid that fits perfectly. It's better to use an upside-down lid because it helps channel the steam into the smaller container.
• Heat-safe Bowl or a Smaller Pot: A smaller pot or a glass bowl that can fit within the bigger pot that can withstand heat is required. It will come in useful for gathering the purified water. Ice: Ice speeds up the process of condensation.
• Water: Tap water that you normally use or water that you want to cleanse from a different source.

Storage containers will need a clean, sanitized container or bottles to store the filtered water once it has been collected.

How to Make Distilled Water

Making your batch of distilled water is quite simple. Once you have all the necessary items (a big pot with a lid, a smaller pot or heat-resistant bowl, water, and ice), you're good to go! Let's get started.

1. Filling the Large Pot

To begin, pour water into the big pot, but only fill it up partially. Leave some space to avoid any boiling mishaps. Then, put the smaller pot or bowl inside the big pot to gather the distilled water.

2. Setting up the Lid

Turn the lid of the big pot over and put it back on. This flipped lid serves as a platform for the steam to condense on. Adding some fresh ice on the flipped lid can be quite handy. The ice chills the lid, boosting the condensation of the steam into water droplets, thus improving the efficiency of the process.

3. Boiling and Condensing

Heat the big pot until the water starts boiling. As the steam rises, it will come into contact with the chilly, ice-cooled lid and transform into tiny droplets. These droplets will eventually descend into the smaller pot or bowl.

4. Collecting the Distilled Water

After you have gathered a sufficient amount of distilled water, switch off the heat and allow the setup to cool down. Gently take out the smaller pot or bowl, which now holds your distilled water and is hot.

5. Storing Distilled Water

Pour the purified water into a fresh, sanitized container and keep it in a cool, shady spot to maintain its purity.

This technique imitates the way water naturally goes through its cycle. It starts with evaporation, which is like boiling and helps separate water from impurities. Then, Condensation forms on the lid, returning the water to its pure liquid condition and eliminating all impurities and minerals.

Benefits of Distilled Water

There are numerous advantages to distilling water, which makes it an important process for many different uses.

• Removal of Contaminants

Distillation is a great way to get rid of impurities like bacteria, viruses, heavy metals, and chemicals from water. It works really well! The problem is that some volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with a boiling point lower than water cannot be eliminated by it.

• Chemicals are not Required

Unlike several other purification techniques, the water distillation process purifies the water without the need for any chemicals. As a result, the water obtained is completely free of any chemical residues.

• Taste and Odour Improvement

Distillation not only removes contaminants but also gets rid of any unpleasant tastes and odours that might be found in tap water, resulting in more refreshing and cleaner drinking water.

• Reduced Hardness

Distilled water is classified as soft because it does not contain the minerals that contribute to water hardness. Its ability to prevent mineral buildup and prolong the lifespan of appliances such as steam irons and humidifiers makes it an ideal choice for use in such equipment.

• Consistency

Distillation is crucial for maintaining a consistent level of water purity, which holds utmost significance in scientific experiments, medical applications, and specific industrial uses that require unwavering water quality.

• Ideal for Emergencies

Distillation can be a practical solution for purifying water when conventional water sources are polluted or inaccessible, as long as there is a heat source available to bring the water to a boil.

Comparing Distilled Water and Purified: What's the Difference?

While both distilled and purified water are clean, treated water, their compositions and degrees of purity differ.

Distilled water is produced by boiling water to create steam, which is then condensed back into liquid form in a separate container in order to achieve a very high level of purity.

Conversely, purified water is defined as having undergone any purification procedure, such as deionization, carbon filtering, or reverse osmosis, to remove pollutants. The particular purification method employed can have an impact on the degree of purity attained.

In summary, distilled water generally achieves a higher level of purity due to its production method. However, for most everyday purposes, such as drinking and cooking, purified water is usually sufficient and easily accessible.