What is an electrolysis tester?
Electrolysis, from the Greek "lysis" (to loosen), is the decomposition of a chemical substance by means of an electric current. It is sometimes used by sellers of water filters, along with a TDS meter, to show that unfiltered water is impure and would be unsafe for consumption. There are several videos on YouTube in which people perform these tests to show what is in tap water. But is this a reliable way to measure water quality?
Incorrect test method
The electrolysis test is often misused by vendors to promote products that leave virtually no minerals in the water after filtration, resulting in a very low TDS value. This filtered water is compared to tap water, a test known in the U.S. as the "water scam test." The problem with this comparison is that minerals such as magnesium and calcium, which are common in tap water, also show up during electrolysis.
Tap water typically contains between 8-15 mg/l of magnesium and 44-72 mg/l of calcium, while mineral water such as Spa blue contains far fewer minerals. The color change that occurs during electrolysis is due to the presence of these minerals and is a natural phenomenon.
Why does the water change color?
The principle behind the color change in an electrolysis test is easy to understand:
- Mineral-poor water does not conduct electricity: Water from a filter that contains almost no minerals cannot conduct electricity. Minerals must be present for electricity to flow through the water and for chemical reactions to take place.
- No minerals, no reaction: When there are no minerals in the water, there will be no chemical reactions that cause the discoloration of the water. This means that filtered water without minerals appears clean because there is no visible result.
- Mineral-rich water does conduct electricity: Tap water, mineral water and filtered water containing minerals can conduct electricity. This causes electrochemical reactions during the electrolysis test, leading to discoloration of the water.
- Discoloration is normal: The color change you see is a result of the presence of minerals such as calcium and magnesium. Depending on the type and amount of minerals, different colors may appear. Sometimes you may also see bubbling or sludge formation, which is a natural process.
- Minerals are responsible: The electrochemical reaction simply shows that the water contains minerals. These minerals are charged ions that conduct electricity, discoloring the water. A higher TDS value indicates that more of these dissolved minerals are present.
It is important to note that neutral (uncharged) compounds, such as sugar, alcohol, many organics, and non-ionized forms of chemicals, drugs, pesticides and other substances, do not conduct electricity. These will not be visible in an electrolysis test or a measurement with a TDS meter.
WITH AN ELECTROLYSIS TEST OR WITH A TDS METER YOU CANNOT MEASURE CONTAMINATION IN WATER. THERE ARE NO CHEAP OR SIMPLE WAYS TO TEST THIS.
THIS CAN ONLY BE DONE BY A LABORATORY.
Schematic representation: electrolysis reactions in water
