What is the process of removing ions with an electrical charge from water called?

• A. Irrigation
• B. Deionization
• C. Filtration
• D. Distillation

Answer: (B)

The process of removing ions with an electrical charge from water is known as deionization. This method employs ion exchange resins, which are materials that can attract and hold onto charged particles, effectively replacing them with neutral ions. As a result, the water becomes free from dissolved salts and other ionic impurities, leading to high-purity water that is essential in various medical and laboratory settings.

Deionization is particularly crucial in contexts where the presence of ions could interfere with laboratory experiments, equipment functionality, or even patient safety in clinical environments. The clarity of the water produced by deionization can also minimize precipitate formation in chemical reactions and equipment processes.

Other methods, such as filtration and distillation, serve different purposes. Filtration primarily removes suspended solids and certain pathogens but does not effectively remove dissolved ions. Distillation, while effective for purifying water by boiling and condensation, does not selectively remove ions in the way that deionization does. Therefore, for the specific goal of ion removal, deionization is the most appropriate and effective method.