Here's why:

* Distillation Process: The distillation process involves boiling water and collecting the steam. This process leaves behind impurities, including dissolved salts like chlorides.

* Purity Standards: Distilled water is often used in applications requiring high purity, so manufacturers aim for very low levels of chloride and other contaminants.

However, distilled water is not completely chloride-free. Trace amounts of chloride may remain due to:

* Contamination from the air: Even during distillation, trace amounts of chloride can be absorbed from the air.

* Equipment imperfections: The distillation apparatus itself can contribute small amounts of chloride.

Typical chloride content in distilled water:

* High-quality distilled water: Usually less than 1 ppm (parts per million) of chloride.

* Lower-quality distilled water: May have slightly higher chloride content, but still significantly lower than tap water.

For comparison:

* Tap water: Chloride content can vary greatly depending on the location, but typically ranges from 20 to 100 ppm.

In summary: Distilled water has a very low chloride content compared to tap water due to the distillation process. However, trace amounts may still be present.