DISTILLED WATER – Distilled water is water purified by boiling the water and collecting the steam. The steam is recovered by condensing the cleaner water vapor into a fresh container. Drinking water usually is distilled twice or double distilled to ensure high purity. Double distilled water is so clean some researchers are concerned the water may cause health problems because it does not contain natural minerals and ions that are desirable in drinking water.

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Distilled Water

How Is Distilled Water Made?

by Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. 

You can find distilled water in stores and labs.

Here's an explanation of what distilled water is and how it's made.

Process

Distilled water is water purified by boiling the water and collecting the steam.

The steam is recovered by condensing the cleaner water vapor into a fresh container.

The distillation process removes most impurities, so it is an effective method of water treatment.

Distilled Water for Drinking Water

Water distillation dates back at least to the time of Aristotle. It has been used to desalinate seawater since at least 200 AD, as outlined by Alexander of Aphrodisias. 

Drinking water usually is distilled twice or double distilled to ensure high purity.

Double distilled water is so clean some researchers are concerned the water may cause health problems because it does not contain natural minerals and ions that are desirable in drinking water.

Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville - Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Science educator with experience teaching chemistry, biology, astronomy, and physics at the high school, college, and graduate levels.

ThoughtCo and About Education chemistry expert since 2001.

Widely-published graphic artist, responsible for printable periodic tables and other illustrations used in science.

Experience

Anne Helmenstine, Ph.D. has covered chemistry for ThoughtCo and About Education since 2001, and other sciences since 2013. She taught chemistry, biology, astronomy, and physics at the high school, college, and graduate levels. She has worked as a research scientist and also abstracting and indexing diverse scientific literature for the Department of Energy.

In addition to her work as a science writer, Dr. Helmenstine currently serves as a scientific consultant, specializing in problems requiring an interdisciplinary approach. Previously, she worked as a research scientist and college professor. 

Education

Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and a B.A. in physics and mathematics with a minor in chemistry from Hastings College. In her doctoral work, Dr. Helmenstine developed ultra-sensitive chemical detection and medical diagnostic tests.

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https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-distilled-water-609411