Bogus Scientific Claims Made By Producers of Ionic Silver Solutions

The statements in bold are from an article titled "What Exactly is Ultra Pure Colloidal Silver" by Marvin Robey.

"... what is this "silver ion?" Well, it's really more commonly known as "colloidal silver". Simply put, it is extremely minute-sized silver particles suspended in water, with a positive electrical charge."

Here the writer is claiming that "colloidal silver" consists of silver ions. This writer is either confused or trying to confuse the reader with the notion that a silver ion is a particle of silver. It is common for producers of ionic silver solutions to interchangeably use the terms silver particles and ions in an attempt to blur the distinction between these two entirely different entities. Ions and particles are dramatically different entities and the terms are not interchangeable.

Silver ions are not particles of metallic silver. Silver particles consist of two or more silver atoms clustered together. Silver particles have the physical properties of metallic silver. Silver ions do not have the physical properties of metallic silver. A silver ion is a single atom of silver that is missing one orbital electron. Since it is the outermost orbital electrons of atoms that determine the physical properties of matter, the missing electron causes dramatic changes in the physical properties. For example, metallic silver is not water soluble (does not dissolve in water) but a silver ion is water soluble and cannot exist without the water or some other solvent being present. Because the physical properties of silver particles and silver ions are so dramatically different the terms cannot be used interchangeably.

When discussing metal colloids such as colloidal silver, the term colloid means silver particles in suspension not silver ions in solution.

"The best colloidal silver is produced at the molecular level."

Here the writer is attempting to sound scientific but is actually describing something that scientifically does not exist. Silver is an element; the smallest form of elemental matter is the atom. A molecule is a term used to describe the smallest form of a compound, not an element. A compound is formed by combining two or more elements. There are no silver molecules, only silver atoms. For example, silver chloride is a compound. One molecule of silver chloride is formed when a single silver ion combines with a single chloride ion.

"Minute, molecular sized particles are drawn off of the positive electrode, having a positive electrical charge."

Here the writer would have us believe that silver particles have a positive charge, again he is confusing ions and particles. Ions have a positive charge called ionic charge owing to the fact that one electron is missing from the outer shell. Since an electron has a negative charge, when one electron is removed the resulting ion is left with positive ionic charge. Silver particles do not have a positive charge. Silver particles in a low ionic environment develop a negative charge called zeta potential which causes the particles to behave as though they possess a negative charge.

"This electrical charge is of primary importance to healing and anti-bacterial qualities."

More bogus science. The positive ionic charge of the silver ions does not survive inside the human body. In fact silver ions cannot survive inside the human for more than a few seconds. When ingested, ionic silver is greeted by hydrochloric acid in the stomach which immediately causes the silver ions to combine with the chloride ions supplied by the hydrochloric acid. This action forms the compound silver chloride which is an insoluble silver salt. Silver chloride does not possess an ionic charge.

"Silver coins were commonly dropped into a jar to prevent the spoilage of milk and other drink, and silver containers were used to prolong the freshness of foods in general."

This statement is true, but it is referring to the biocidal properties of metallic silver, not silver ions. By placing this statement immediately after a discussion of silver ions the writer is attempting to blur the distinction between metallic silver and silver ions just as he tries to use the two terms interchangeably in the statements above.

Ionic Silver vs. Pure Colloidal Silver

The statements in bold are from an Internet ad for "Ultra Pure Colloidal Silver".

"Crystal clear, nothing but pure water and silver particals."

This product is produced by electrolysis and is mostly ionic silver, not silver particles. Not only do they falsely claim that their product consists of silver particles but they don't even know how to spell the word particles (misspelled word in the actual ad).

These products have not been tested or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, prevent, treat or cure any disease.
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