Will filtered water work the same as distilled in science experiments?

[Jane Elliot]

We are having a snowstorm. I am not running 25 miles to town just for distilled water, or for anything else for that matter. Will filtered (reverse osmosis under the sink) work the same as distilled?

[Lori D.]

Probably not.

 

Distilled water is water that was boiled until water vapor forms, leaving behind all additives and contaminants; the vapor is collected in a sterile container where it condenses into pure water, so there is absolutely no mineral or other contaminant in the water.

 

RO filtered water, while it does remove tiny minerals and solids, cannot remove things that have dissolved into the water (such as chlorine) and would contaminate the water, change the pH balance of the water, etc.

 

If you are absolutely desperate, and have a very very clean container, you could *try* to distill some water by boiling it and collecting the steam... Be careful, though, as steam burns are nasty!

 

Would a neighbor have any distilled water? A lot of people have a jug around for using in their iron so no minerals build up and wreck the appliance for ironing clothes... BEST of luck! Warmly, Lori D.

[Brenda in MA]

It really depends upon what the goal of the experiment is and whether trace minerals will effect the results.

 

What is the experiment you would be doing with the water?

 

Brenda

[Jane Elliot]

The experiment is "Electrical Conductivity of Compounds Dissolved in Water". I guess we need to know if reverse osmosis removes all the minerals. Right? Or would there be other factors to consider.

[EKS]

Reverse osmosis will not completely deionize the water, meaning that you should probably used purchased distilled water (sorry!).

[Jane Elliot]

Thanks for your help, everyone. We'll get it when the roads clear.