Distilled water, many have heard of it, but perhaps not everyone knows exactly what it is about. And no, it is not the same as mineral water or water that has been purified by ozonation or chlorination techniques. Purified water is water that has been filtered or processed to remove impurities like chemicals and other pollutants, but still contains mineral salts, for example.
Distilled water is made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atoms, the molecule of which is chemically represented by the formula H2O. The liquid component has been subjected to a distillation process in which impurities and ions have been removed from the source water, as explained from Aquae, the Water Foundation.
In Aquae they use nature to explain the process: the sun causes the water on the earth’s surface (lakes, rivers and seas, among others) to evaporate due to the increase in temperature. Then, due to the cold in the atmosphere, it falls back in the form of rain, snow or dew. This process of evaporation And later condensation steam is distillation.
For this reason, when we speak of distilled water we refer to that obtained by imitating this natural process. The water is evaporated by a heat source and then condensed with the application of cold. This process is carried out in stainless steel equipment, where it is very important that the absence of polluting substances is previously checked.
How to make distilled water at home
The question is And how can we do it at home? Let’s see that it is simpler than it seems.
1. First we fill a pot with water and inside we put a smaller container that will remain floating. This is the one that will collect the distilled water.
2. Light the fire and cover the large container with the cover but put upside down.
3. Heat the water and bring it to boiling so that the water begins to evaporate. The water vapor will go away condensing on the surface of the inverted cap. To facilitate the condensation process, place some ice on the lid.
4. The drops of water vapor will fall on the container that we put inside the pot.
You already have the distilled water ready. Ideally, store it in sterilized containers.
Uses of distilled water
1. Laboratory work: Distilled water is used in laboratories to prepare solutions, reagents, the calibration and sterilization of equipment, as an analytical blank, to clean glassware or for the preparation of high purity water, among others.
2. In cars and household appliances: As it does not have residues, it is also often used in steam irons, humidifiers and vaporizers because it helps to avoid the accumulation of minerals, unlike what can happen when using tap water.
3. In aquariums: distilled water can be used in aquariums to introduce possible microorganisms present in tap water into the fish tank. However, it must be taken into account that if this type of water is used, mineral supplements will have to be added along with the food of the organisms that live there to maintain their good health.
4. Irrigation of plants: Using distilled water on plants can have benefits as an impurity-free source of irrigation, but on the other hand, plants need minerals, many of which can be found in tap water. In this case, the decision depends on the type of plant or on finding a balance between water and mineral supplements through fertilizers.
5. Beer: homebrewers use distilled water to mimic the type of water used in Pilsner-type beers.
Other types of water
We are going to see the main characteristics of some types of water to understand the differences with respect to distilled water:
1. Fresh water: It comes from natural sources and is treated before being consumed in homes. As its name indicates, it has a very low concentration of dissolved salts. It will be converted into drinking water.
2. Drinking water: it is the most suitable for consumption. It is obtained through purification processes such as chlorination and ozonification, among others. Drinking distilled water is not the same as drinking drinking water, as the distillation process removes electrolytes and mineral salts that the human body needs to stay hydrated.
3. Hard or calcareous water: contains a very high level of salts, especially calcium and magnesium and is recognized for its great difficulty in dissolving soap.
As we have just seen, drinking distilled water is not the healthiest thing to do, precisely because of its lack of mineral salts and electrolytes.
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
