How to Clean Sea Water
Over 70 percent of our world is covered by water and much of that water is sea water. Sea water contains salt, making it undrinkable unless it is desalinated or cleaned of the salt. Large desalination projects are underway using a technique called "reverse osmosis" to increase the world's supply of drinking water. Evaporation, and a little simple science, can provide salt-free water on a smaller scale.
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Instructions
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Process
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1
Pour 2 to 3 tablespoons of kitchen salt into 5 cups of tap water. Stir the water with a spoon until the salt crystals fully dissolve in the water. Alternatively, collect a few cups of sea water from the ocean or a brackish water spot.
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2
Pour the salt water mixture into a large glass or plastic mixing bowl. The bowl must be large enough to accommodate the salt water and an additional bowl in the center of it.
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3
Place the small dish or a large cup inside the mixing bowl. Take extra care not to spill even a drop of the salt water into the smaller bowl. Ensure the small bowl is set sturdily in the bottom and does not rock from side to side.
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4
Cover both bowls with a large piece of plastic kitchen wrap and pull it taut across the top surface. The wrap should cover the bowls tightly and seal firmly to the sides of the outer bowl to ensure no moisture is released.
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5
Put a small rock (as could fit in the center of a child's hand) in the center of the plastic wrap covering. This should dip the surface of the plastic slightly, creating a slight inverted cone shape. The stone is merely a weight and it does not matter what type of rock you use.
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6
Set the covered bowls in direct sunlight, preferably outside. If the plastic is sealed and tight enough, condensation should begin to form after an hour. Leave the bowls outside for six to eight hours.
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7
Remove the plastic wrap carefully from the top of the bowls and observe the water that has collected in the smaller bowl at the center. If you taste this water, it should be free of any salt due to the processes of evaporation and condensation.
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