What process involves heating water to create vapor that is then condensed?

The process that involves heating water to create vapor, which is then condensed back into liquid form, is known as distillation. This method utilizes the principle that different substances have different boiling points. By heating the water, it transforms into steam, leaving impurities and contaminants behind. As the vapor cools, it condenses back into liquid water, effectively purifying the original water. Distillation is particularly effective for separating liquids from solids and can also remove some dissolved substances, making it a valuable technique in both laboratory and industrial applications.

Filtration typically involves passing water through a medium to remove particles and impurities but does not involve changing the state from liquid to gas and back. Reverse osmosis is a process that forces water through a semi-permeable membrane to remove contaminants but does not use vaporization. Chlorination refers to the addition of chlorine to water for disinfection purposes and does not involve vaporization or condensation.