Is Boiled Water the Same as Distilled?

boiled water
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Drinking water is an essential part of our everyday life. But have you ever wondered if the type of water you drink makes a difference? Boiled and distilled water are two methods to purify drinking water, but is one better?

In this article, we will explore the differences between boiled and distilled water so that you can decide which method to use for your daily drinking needs.

Key Takeaway
  • The difference between boiled water and distilled is that boiled water is purified by being boiled, while distilled water has been further purified to remove potentially harmful contaminants.
  • Boiling does not remove every type of contaminant from your drinking water.
  • However, distilled water is the purest form of water without any impurities.

What Makes Boiled Water Different From Distilled Water?

Boiled and distilled water are two popular types of purified water. They may look the same, but they have significant differences. Boiling is a simple technique that involves heating water to its boiling point and cooling it down. At the same time, distillation requires a more complicated process of heating, vaporizing, and condensing to remove impurities.

Boiling water effectively kills bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms that can cause diseases. It also removes some minerals and chemicals from tap water, such as chlorine or fluoride. However, boiling has little effect on removing harmful contaminants like heavy metals or dissolved solids. Additionally, boiled water may still contain some impurities if not boiled long enough or if the container used needs to be cleaner.

On the other hand, distillation goes through a more rigorous purification process than boiling. Distillation involves boiling water and then re-condensing it. This process removes impurities from the water, such as chemicals, heavy metals, dissolved solids, and other substances.

What is Boiling?

The process of boiling involves adding heat energy to the water. As heat is added, it causes the molecules in the water to move faster and faster until they start bouncing off each other with great force. At this point, bubbles start forming within the water as pockets of steam form and rise to the top.

Several factors can affect how quickly or slowly water boils, including altitude, pressure, and impurities within the water itself.

boiled water

What are the contaminants that boiling removes?

Boiling is one of the simplest and most effective methods for purifying water. However, it is important to understand that not all contaminants are removed by boiling. Boiling water can remove or reduce certain types of bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and other microorganisms. In addition, boiling can also eliminate some chemical pollutants.

Boiling water for at least one minute can kill harmful bacteria such as E.coli and salmonella. It also inactivates viruses like Hepatitis A that may be present in untreated water sources. Moreover, boiling can destroy many protozoan parasites like Giardia and Cryptosporidium that cause gastrointestinal illnesses.

However, boiling does not remove every contaminant from your drinking water. B boiling alone will not affect chemicals such as heavy metals or pesticides because they are heat-resistant substances.

What are the uses of boiling water?

Boiling water is a simple yet effective technique that has been utilized for centuries. Historically, people boil water to make it safe for drinking or cooking. Today, boiling water remains essential in many settings and applications.

One of the primary uses of boiling water is to sterilize equipment and surfaces. In medical facilities, laboratories, and food preparation areas, boiling water kills harmful bacteria and viruses that can cause infections. Also, boiling water can help remove impurities from materials like metals or textiles before they are further processed.

Boiling water also plays a key role in the culinary world. Many recipes call for boiled or simmered ingredients as a critical step in the cooking process. Boiling vegetables helps retain nutritional value while making them more tender and easier to digest.

What is Distillation?

Distillation is a process that involves boiling water and then condensing the steam back into liquid form. This process aims to remove impurities from the water, such as minerals, bacteria, and other contaminants. Distillation is one of the oldest methods of purifying water and has been used for centuries in various forms.

Several types of distillation processes are used today, including simple distillation, fractional distillation, and steam distillation. Simple distillation involves heating water in a container until it boils and then collecting the condensed vapor in another container.

Fractional distillation uses multiple stages to separate different components in a mixture based on their boiling points. Steam distillation involves passing steam through plant material or other substances to extract essential oils or other compounds. Here is a list of the best distillers that you can check out. 

distillation process

What are the contaminants that distillation removes?

Distillation removes various contaminants that may be present in water. Contaminants removed by distillation include minerals, bacteria, viruses, heavy metals, pesticides, and chemicals. These contaminants can adversely affect human health if consumed in large quantities.

During the distillation process, any impurities in the water are left behind as they cannot turn into steam at high temperatures. This results in pure, clean drinking water free from harmful substances.

What are the uses of distilled water?

Distilled water has several uses, ranging from industrial to household applications. One common use of distilled water is in medical settings, where it is used for sterilization and other procedures. It’s also commonly used as an ingredient in medications due to its purity. In laboratories, distilled water is used for experiments and testing because its lack of contaminants ensures accurate results.

Distilled water can also be found in household products such as steam irons, humidifiers, and air conditioning units. Its lack of minerals prevents mineral buildup, which can cause damage or clog within these devices. Additionally, some people prefer distilled water because they believe it provides a purer form of hydration than tap or bottled water.

Is Distilled Water 100% Pure Water?

Distilled water is a type of water that has undergone a distillation process. During this process, impurities are removed from the water, leaving behind pure H2O. However, distilled water may not be 100% pure despite its purity.

This is because distilled water may still contain trace amounts of gases and minerals that were not completely removed during the distillation process. For example, carbon dioxide in the air can dissolve into distilled water and create small amounts of carbonic acid, slightly altering the pH level. Additionally, some minerals may have a higher boiling point than water and, therefore, cannot be fully removed through distillation.

Despite these minor imperfections, distilled water is still considered one of the purest forms of drinking water available. It does not contain harmful contaminants such as bacteria or viruses and is safe to consume regularly.

distilled water

Is Distilled Water Healthy?

Although drinking distilled water may seem appealing for those looking to avoid impurities in their tap or bottled water, it is important to note that it can also remove beneficial minerals such as calcium and magnesium. These essential minerals are necessary to maintain healthy bones and teeth, regulate muscle function, and support overall bodily functions. Therefore, there may be better choices than relying solely on distilled water as your primary source of hydration.

Is It Possible to Make Distilled Water at Home?

Fortunately, making distilled water at home is relatively simple and requires only a few basic tools.

To make distilled water at home, you only need a pot with a lid, a heat-resistant bowl that fits inside the pot without touching the bottom, and some ice cubes.

  • Fill the pot with tap water and place the bowl inside it. Make sure that the bowl does not touch the bottom of the pot.
  • Place a few ice cubes in the bowl, cover it, and turn on the heat.
  • As the water heats, it will evaporate, and steam will rise into the bowl.
  • Once the water has become steam, turn off the heat and remove the lid.
  • The steam will condense, cool down and become distilled water.
turning tap water into distilled water

Are Water Distillers Better Than Water Filters?

While both these methods effectively remove contaminants from the water, some differences between them need to be considered.

Water filters use various methods like activated carbon, reverse osmosis, and UV light to remove impurities from the water. These methods remove harmful chemicals and retain healthy minerals like calcium and magnesium in the water.

On the other hand, distilled water lacks these essential minerals since they are removed along with other impurities during the distillation process. Although distilled water is free of contaminants, it may not be as healthy as filtered water due to its lack of minerals.

Conclusion

Boiling water is different from distilling it. Boiling water purifies it by killing off bacteria and other microorganisms, but it does not necessarily make it safe to drink. Distilled water is safer because it lacks minerals, chemicals, and other contaminants. Thus, investing in a home distillation unit is the best and safest option if you are looking for clean and safe drinking water. You can also make distilled water at home by following a few simple steps.

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