How to Convert Salt Water into Drinking Water
According to drinktap.org, 98 percent of the water on the earth's surface is stored in oceans and so has a high salt content. Despite increasing water scarcity, humans cannot drink this vital water resource in its natural state as this would cause significant health problems. However, salt water can be converted into drinking water by a process of distillation.
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Instructions
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Put the cup in the center of the pot with the rim facing up. The cup must be slightly shorter than the top of the pot or the lid will not fit on.
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Slowly pour the salt water into the pot until two thirds of the glass is submerged. Make sure the water does not enter the cup.
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Turn the lid upside down and place it on top of the pot. The lid's handle or knob should be directly above the cup, facing into the pot.
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Turn on the heat source and gently boil the water for 15-20 minutes. The water will evaporate, condense on the lid of the pot and drip down into the glass. The salt crystals will be left on the bottom of the pot.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure the water does not boil vigorously. If it does it could fall into the cup and spoil the experiment.
Keep the lid cold either by putting it in ice before use or by changing it during the experiment. This will speed up the process of condensation and allow more water to be collected.
During the experiment, open the lid a little to allow the steam to escape, otherwise the water could overflow.
Do not allow the water in the pot to run dry.
Use a wide cup to collect more water.
The glass and water will be hot. Allow both to cool before drinking.
Steam can burn the skin; children should be supervised by an adult during this experiment.
Do not leave the experiment unattended.
References
Resources
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