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Distilled Water on the Stovetop
Charlie

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Charlie

11. uMfumfu 2026DE
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Distilled Water on the Stovetop

Boil tap water in a covered pot and catch the steam that condenses on the cold, upturned lid. The steam leaves the dissolved salts and minerals behind, so the drops that fall into a bowl in the middle are distilled water: for steam irons, lead-acid batteries, chemistry, humidifiers and topping up anything that must not scale. It is slow and uses a lot of energy for little water. The notebook shows why, and how to measure your own stove.
Oqalayo
About 2 hours

Imiyalelo

1

Why it takes so much energy

Ilayisha incwadi ye-Jupyter…
2

Set up the pot

Stand a trivet in the stockpot and a glass bowl on it. Pour tap water around the bowl to about 5 cm below the bowl's rim, about 4 litres; none may splash into the bowl.

Izinto zokwakha zalesi sinyathelo:

AmanziAmanzi4 amalitha

Amathuluzi adingekayo:

Ibhodwe elikhuluIbhodwe elikhulu
Isisekelo sezimbiza ezishisayoIsisekelo sezimbiza ezishisayo
Isitsha sengilaziIsitsha sengilazi
3

Turn the lid over

Put the lid on upside down, handle down, so it slopes to its centre over the bowl. Steam will condense on its underside and run to the handle and drip into the bowl.

Amathuluzi adingekayo:

Ibhodwe elikhuluIbhodwe elikhulu
4

Simmer

Heat until the water simmers, then turn down so it keeps a gentle simmer. A hard boil throws spray into the bowl. Start the stopwatch at the first drip.

Amathuluzi adingekayo:

Ipuleti ElishisayoIpuleti Elishisayo
Iwashi Lokumisa IsikhathiIwashi Lokumisa Isikhathi
5

Ice on the lid

Fill the upturned lid with ice. The colder lid condenses more steam. When the ice has melted, ladle the meltwater off with oven gloves on and add fresh ice.

Izinto zokwakha zalesi sinyathelo:

Amaqhwa aqoshiweAmaqhwa aqoshiwe1 kg

Amathuluzi adingekayo:

Isipuni esikhulu sokuphakelaIsipuni esikhulu sokuphakela
Amagilavu Amelana NokushisaAmagilavu Amelana Nokushisa
6

Stop before it runs dry

Stop while at least 3 cm of water is left in the pot: what stays behind holds all the salts. Turn off the heat, let it cool 10 minutes, and lift the lid away from you; steam scalds.

Amathuluzi adingekayo:

Amagilavu Amelana NokushisaAmagilavu Amelana Nokushisa
7

Weigh and test

Weigh the distillate and note the time. Read a sample of the tap water and of the distillate with a TDS meter: the distillate should read far lower. Enter your numbers in the notebook.

Amathuluzi adingekayo:

Isikali Sedijithali SasekhishiniIsikali Sedijithali Sasekhishini
Iwashi Lokumisa IsikhathiIwashi Lokumisa Isikhathi
Imitha ye-TDSImitha ye-TDS
8

Store it

Pour it into a clean glass jar with a lid and label it. Throw away the water left in the pot.

Amathuluzi adingekayo:

Ijeke Lengilazi ElinesivaloIjeke Lengilazi Elinesivalo
9

Troubleshooting

Stovetop distillation troubleshooting.

Flow

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10

What it removes, and what it does not

Distillation leaves dissolved salts, minerals and most dirt behind in the pot. Substances that boil at or below water's boiling point can travel with the steam, so it is not a guaranteed way to remove solvents or fuels from contaminated water. Laboratory stills use the same principle with a water-cooled condenser, which is faster and uses less ice.

Izinto

2

Amathuluzi Adingekayo

10

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