Description

Distilled water is water that has been purified through a process called distillation. In this process, water is boiled to produce steam, and then the steam is condensed back into liquid. This removes most impurities, minerals, and dissolved salts, leaving nearly pure H₂O.

Here are some key points about distilled water:

Purity: Free from minerals, salts, and most contaminants.

Taste: Flat or bland compared to tap or spring water because it lacks minerals.

Uses:

Laboratory experiments and medical equipment (like autoclaves)

Car batteries and steam irons to prevent mineral buildup

Certain industrial processes that require mineral-free water

⚠️ Note: Drinking distilled water is safe in small amounts, but it lacks minerals like calcium and magnesium, so relying on it exclusively for hydration long-term isn’t recommended.

Here’s a clear breakdown of the differences between distilled, purified, and deionized water:

Type of Water How It’s Made What It Removes Common Uses
Distilled Water Boiled to produce steam → condensed back into liquid Almost all minerals, salts, organic matter, bacteria Lab experiments, medical equipment, car batteries, steam irons
Purified Water Any process that removes contaminants: distillation, reverse osmosis, filtration Most impurities, including minerals, chemicals, and microbes Drinking water, pharmaceuticals, food processing
Deionized (DI) Water Water passed through ion-exchange resins that remove charged ions Ions (like Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, Cl⁻), but not necessarily uncharged molecules or bacteria Laboratories, electronics cleaning, industrial processes

Key differences:

Process – Distilled uses boiling/condensation; purified can use multiple methods; deionized specifically removes ions.

Purity Type – Distilled and purified remove most contaminants, including microbes; DI water mainly removes ions but may leave organic molecules or microbes.

Uses – Distilled and DI water are more industrial/lab-oriented; purified water is often made for drinking.

💡 Tip: If a label just says “purified water,” it doesn’t tell you how it was purified. It could be distilled, reverse-osmosis, or something else.