What is the process called that removes ions from water?

The process that removes ions from water is known as deionization. Deionization specifically targets the removal of charged particles, or ions, from water by utilizing ion-exchange resins. During this process, negatively charged ions (anions) are exchanged for neutral or less harmful substances, and positively charged ions (cations) are similarly exchanged. As a result, the water is purified to a significant extent, making it suitable for various applications in laboratories, medical settings, and industrial processes where high purity is essential.

In contrast, filtration primarily focuses on removing solid particles and impurities from a liquid, not specifically targeting ions. Reverse osmosis is a membrane technology that can separate water from ions and other impurities, but it does so entirely through pressure-driven processes and does not specifically identify or exchange ions. Distillation involves the process of heating a liquid to create vapor and then cooling the vapor to obtain the liquid again, which can result in the separation of many substances, but does not directly target ion removal as deionization does. Thus, deionization is the most precise term for the specific action of removing ions from water.