Metallic silver forms from silver ions when they pick up an electron.
Electrons are available at liquid interfaces such as the surface of gas
bubbles on an electrode, where water meets an electrode and the capacitive
surface of glass.
At a gas to water interface, there is a surface tension for these metallic
particles to be trapped on.
In the gas of a gas bubble forming on the electrode, that bubble will
want to break free and rise, or as the electrode is withdrawn from the
water, those bubble pop.
When the bubbles pop they transfer their load of metallic silver to the
top surface tension of the water adding that load to any that's formed at
the electrode to surface interface.
Silver has weight and will make a depression in the surface of the water
like a bowl that everything elsewhere on the waters surface tends to roll into.
While it looks like a lot of silver has collected and concentrated in
that bowl, it's actually a very thin sheet of very small metallic silver
particles taking on the reflective appearance of a mirror.
It can be removed by dragging a piece of paper towel across the surface or
just stirred in.
Why more metallic silver forms and collects at some times but not others, I
dunno. Could be temperature and/or water contaminants affects the
interfaces and surface tensions.
Bottom line: Nothing to worry about. It looks like a lot more than it is
and it's the same sort of stuff that didn't make it to the top to roll into
a bowl and wound up in the water.
Ode
At 06:41 AM 1/6/2011 -0800, you wrote:
Hi Everyone,
I purchased my silver puppy last summer and have been happily making EIS
since. I made my last batch last night and when I looked at it this
morning it had spots of a silver sheen floating on the top. Does anyone
have any ideas what this might be? Do I need to be concerned about it?
Thanks for your assistance.
PT
--
The Silver List is a moderated forum for discussing Colloidal Silver.
Rules and Instructions: http://www.silverlist.org
Unsubscribe:
<mailto:[email protected]?subject=unsubscribe>
Archives:
http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html
Off-Topic discussions: <mailto:[email protected]>
List Owner: Mike Devour <mailto:[email protected]>
