In a message dated 3/25/01 5:08:39 AM EST, [email protected] writes: << Subj: Re: CS>Solubility of silver in water. Date: 3/25/01 5:08:39 AM EST From: [email protected] (Ivan Anderson) Reply-to: [email protected] To: [email protected] Frank Perhaps just putting some freshly scrubbed silver sheet or wire into 50ml of water, cover and leave for a week or so. I have some silver powder salvaged from the cathode of one of my batches, I shall put it into some DW and leave for a while and test it with the ISE. The ISE may not be able to measure the low concentrations one might expect, but it is worth a try. Ivan >>
Ivan& Frank: I propose that the mechanism that permits a slight amount of silver (but sufficient to have germicidal activity) to dissolve in pure water, is based on the type & concentration of impurities alloyed with the silver (which provides micro-corrosion sites to electrochemically dissolve silver into the water). So, why not conduct a simple series of tests. Anyone who has 0.9999 (or, preferably, higher purity) silver should place it in distilled water and measure the conductivity every few weeks. Simultaneously, the same test should be repeated for 0.999 silver, and sterling silver (which contains about 92% silver, I believe). Plot these conductivity values Vs time. I believe what you will find is that the conductivity of the water containing the 0.9999 silver will rise and level off because some of the CO2 from the air above will dissolve in the DW, BUT, because of its high purity, practically no silver will dissolve. However, for the less pure silver, the conductivity will continue to rise with time because some of the silver will dissolve in the DW UNLESS the metal surface passivates (a good researcher always has a ready made excuse if his idea doesn't pan out -- helps to remain gainfully employed). However, I don't expect this to happen since silver oxide/hydroxide/carbonate are unlikely to form. The ONE THING that should be kept far, far away form these tests is ANY source of sulfide sulfur (even infinitesimal amounts of H2S from eggs or other sources will screw things up). So do these tests in SEALED bottles. Whatever CO2 is "captured" inside the bottle will reach equilibrium with the DW. AA analysis for silver should be used to confirm some of the "higher" conductivity results. Roger -- The silver-list is a moderated forum for discussion of colloidal silver. To join or quit silver-list or silver-digest send an e-mail message to: [email protected] -or- [email protected] with the word subscribe or unsubscribe in the SUBJECT line. To post, address your message to: [email protected] Silver-list archive: http://escribe.com/health/thesilverlist/index.html List maintainer: Mike Devour <[email protected]>
