Why is it important to use distilled water in experiments?

It's important to use distilled water in experiments to ensure accuracy by eliminating potential contaminants.

Distilled water is water that has been boiled into vapour and then condensed back into liquid in a separate container. This process removes impurities and minerals from the water, making it 'pure'. In scientific experiments, particularly in chemistry, the use of distilled water is crucial to maintain the integrity and accuracy of the results.

When conducting an experiment, it's essential to control all variables as much as possible. This includes the type of water used. Tap water, for instance, contains various minerals and other substances that could interfere with the experiment and skew the results. For example, if you're conducting a titration to determine the concentration of a certain substance in a solution, the presence of additional ions in tap water could react with the reagents and affect the outcome.

Distilled water is also used to clean laboratory equipment. Residues from previous experiments can interfere with the results of subsequent ones. By using distilled water for cleaning, you can minimise the risk of cross-contamination.

In biology experiments, distilled water is often used to create solutions. The absence of impurities ensures that the observed effects are solely due to the substances being tested, not due to any unexpected reactions with minerals or other compounds in the water.

In summary, the use of distilled water in experiments is a fundamental aspect of good laboratory practice. It helps to maintain the accuracy and reliability of experimental results by eliminating potential sources of error and contamination.