How does distillation purify water?

Distillation purifies water by boiling it into steam and then condensing it back into liquid in a separate container.

Distillation is a purification process that exploits the different boiling points of substances to separate them. When it comes to water purification, this process is particularly effective because most of the impurities found in water have a higher boiling point than water itself.

The process begins by heating the impure water. As the temperature rises, the water starts to evaporate, turning into steam. This steam rises and leaves behind the impurities, as they do not evaporate at the same temperature as water. The steam is then directed into a condenser, which is a cooled area that allows the steam to condense back into liquid form.

The condensed water is collected in a separate container, leaving behind the impurities in the original container. This newly collected water is now purified and free from the impurities that were present in the original water source.

It's important to note that while distillation is a very effective method for removing many impurities, it may not remove all contaminants. Some substances, such as certain organic compounds, have a lower boiling point than water and may evaporate and condense along with the water. However, for most common impurities found in water, distillation is a highly effective purification method.

In summary, distillation purifies water by utilising the different boiling points of water and its impurities. The water is boiled into steam, leaving behind most impurities, and then condensed back into liquid in a separate container, resulting in purified water.