How to Purify Sea Water
As Africanwater.org reports, more than 70 percent of the earth's surface is covered in water, yet 1.1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water. According to Drinktap.org, this is because 98 percent of this water is stored in seas or oceans, meaning that it has a high salt content and so cannot be consumed by humans because it causes health problems. But research has shown that seawater can be purified through a process called distillation.
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Instructions
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Put the pot on the stove or fire. Do not turn the heat source on. Place the cup in the center of the pot with the rim facing upward. The top of the cup must be 1 inch below the rim of the pot, or the lid will not fit on.
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Pour the sea water into the pot until three-quarters of the glass is underwater. Make sure no water splashes inside the cup or the experiment will be contaminated.
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Turn the lid upside down so the handle or knob is facing the floor. Put the lid on top of the pot. The handle or knob should be directly above the cup.
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Turn the heat source on. Boil the water on a low heat for 20 minutes. The water will evaporate, condense on the pot lid and drip into the glass. The salt crystals will form a layer 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.
The lid should be kept cold by changing it during the experiment or storing it in ice before using it. This means that condensation occurs faster and so more water will be collected.
Open the lid a little while the water is boiling to allow the steam to escape. This prevents the water from overflowing.
Top up the water in the pot if it is running low. Do not allow the water to run dry.
Use a wide, tall cup to allow more water to be collected.
The glass and water will be hot. Leave it to cool before drinking.
Be careful when removing the pot lid because steam can cause skin burns.
Children should be supervised by an adult.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit seawater image by PictureDaddy from Fotolia.com
