How does an Ionizer work?

A water ionizer is an appliance that ionizes tap water and separates it into two separate streams - one alkaline and one acidic - through a process called electrolysis.

Ionization breaks the bond between the oxygen and hydrogen atoms of a water molecule [H2O] and produces alkaline water full of hydroxyl ions [OH-] and acid water full of hydrogen ions [H+]. Alkaline and Acidic Water are always produced simultaneously during the ionizing process, producing 3 litres of Ionized Water yields approximately2.1 liters of Alkaline Water and 0.9 liters of Acid Water.

FILTRATION

Water enters the ionizer through an inlet port at the bottom of the unit and is first filtered to remove common pollutants, particulate matter, chlorine, odour and organic matter present in tap water.

ELECTROLYSIS

The water then flows through an electrolysis chamber which contains positively and negatively charged platinum-covered titanium electrodes. Ions are attracted to their oppositely charged electrodes: hydrogen and non-metals to the cathode, hydroxyl and alkaline minerals to the anode. The electrodes are composed of titanium, the hardest metal, and coated with platinum, which is an excellent and durable conductor.

ALKALINE WATER, which comes out of the top spout on the ionizer, is the fraction that we drink and cook with. It contains a high concentration of positively charged minerals that are beneficial for our health, such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium.

ACIDIC WATER, which is dispensed through the bottom hose or spout, is used externally for cleaning and disinfecting the skin and household surfaces. It is discharged into the sink when it is not needed or saved for later use.

How does ionization affect the molecular structure of water?

Water that enters the electrolytic cell is subjected to a small electric current which passes between the plates, causing the water molecules [H2O] to split into two ions: a negatively charged hydroxyl ion [OH-] and a positively charged hydrogen ion [H+].

At the exit of the electrolytic cell, the water is separated into two streams:

The alkaline water stream contains a larger proportion of hydroxyl ions [OH-] which act as a powerful antioxidant, or reducing agent, because these ions have spare electrons that can easily be donated to our cells. Antioxidants neutralize the oxidative damage caused by electron scavenging free radicals in our body. The acidic water stream contains a larger proportion of hydrogen ions [H+] which, contrary to hydroxyl ions, act as a powerful oxidant or disinfectant capable of killing bacteria and other pathogens on contact (when pH is below 2.7).

The Importance of Minerals

The ease at with a high pH is achieved when ionizing water will depend on how slow the water runs through the water ionizer, as well as the water temperature and mineral content of the source water. Tepid water makes stronger Ionized Water than filtered water because it allows the electrodes to become hotter. The hotter the electrodes, the stronger the ionization. More minerals in the source water will produce stronger Ionized Water because minerals provide conductivity. Some water ionizers have built-in mineral ports where calcium and other water soluble minerals can be leached into, or added, to the source water as it passes through the filter before it is ionized. Without conductivity, ionization cannot occur. Purified water, either distilled or reverse osmosis, has no mineral content and therefore almost no ionization occurs if this water is used with a water ionizer because of the lack of conductivity that only minerals can provide.

There are both alkaline-forming and acid-forming minerals. Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Iron and Potassium are alkaline-forming minerals because their ions have a positive charge. Ionization provides them with a negative charge. Calcium is Ca++; Potassium is K+; Magnesium is Mg++. These minerals will strengthen

The alkaline side of the Ionized Water by forming hydroxyl ions. Ionization will become stronger on the alkaline side if there is predominance of alkaline minerals present in the water and stronger on the acid side if there is a predominance of acid minerals.

The reason they are positively charged is because they are stable with a positive ionic charge. When calcium has a negative charge, it means it has an extra electron attached to it. The calcium will be more easily assimilated by the body because of the extra energy the calcium molecule has due to the electron that is attached to it. Minerals that have this charge are considered ionic.

All ingested substances and all situations (physical, emotional, or mental) that affect the body, leave either an alkaline or acid ash residue in the urine.

Sulfur, iodine, chloride, phosphorous, bromine, copper, silicon and fluoride are acid-forming minerals because they have a negative charge. The body uses various minerals, many of which leave behind acid ash when they are used up. For instance, each heartbeat occurs due to magnesium. Nerves must fire in precisely the correct sequence to stimulate muscles that contract the chambers of the heart. As the magnesium is used, the acid ash from the reaction must be removed. The body removes ash efficiently when it is healthy, alkaline and its various systems are balanced. When mineral ash is not removed from the body, it accumulates and acidifies it.

PH is a measurement of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. It provides a value on a scale from 0 to 14 where 7 is neutral, less than 7 is acidic, and greater than 7 is alkaline (or basic).