Process of Distilled Water
When you boil water, it turns into a vapor and rises. The vapor condenses back into liquid form and is collected in a container. This process is known as distillation. Distillation can be done at home, but it takes time and special equipment. This method also has the potential to introduce unwanted chemicals into your distilled water, depending on the type of containers you use. You can make distilled water in glass or metal, but you should avoid using plastic containers. The chemical leaching from plastic can cause contamination and potentially health problems in those who drink the water.
Pure distilled water is used in some medical applications, such as sterilizing surgical instruments. It’s also a good choice for filling aquariums, as it can remove contaminants that are harmful to aquatic life. It’s also preferred in CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machines, as it helps prevent bacteria growth in the machine. Distilled water is also a great choice for cooking and canning food, as it won’t alter the flavor of foods like other types of tap water.
Unlike other drinking water sources, which are regulated by federal and state agencies, how to make distilled water is not required to be tested for contaminants. This is why it’s important to use additional methods for water purification, such as carbon filters. This is particularly true for those who are immunocompromised, such as cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and organ transplant recipients. Those with compromised immune systems are more susceptible to the toxic effects of certain chemical contaminants, such as herbicides and pesticides.
What is the Process of Distilled Water?
One of the main reasons to choose distilled water is that it’s completely free of organic compounds and heavy metals. These contaminants are commonly found in tap water. They can include inorganic minerals, such as copper and silver, and metals such as lead. They can also be organic compounds, such as herbicides and pesticides, or volatile chemicals, such as phenols and phthalates. The high boiling point of distilled water means that these contaminants turn into gasses and rise, while the pure distilled water is left behind.
This is how it works in nature, too. When the sun heats water on the surface of the earth, it vaporizes and rises. As the vapor rises it leaves behind the contaminants and then falls back down as rain. This process is similar to the distillation process at work in your kitchen. The difference is that you can do it on a small scale with your own pot and stove.
To begin making distilled water, place 8 cups of water in a large pot and a smaller pot inside it so that the bottom of the larger pot is touching the bottom of the smaller one. Then place a lid on the pot upside down and add some ice cubes to the lid’s underside. The ice will help the vapor condense faster, so it can drip into the bowl underneath. Continue to monitor the ice and replace it as needed until you have a bowl of distilled water.
