Water quality testing by electrolysis
Electrolysis (from the Greek lysis = loosening, releasing) is the decomposition of a chemical substance by means of an electric current.
Vendors of various water filters sometimes use an Electrolysis device and/or a TDS meter to supposedly demonstrate that all water except that produced through their purification devices is impure and therefore unsafe for human consumption.
There are also several videos on YouTube in which people do such a test to show what junk is in tap water.
I have written a separate blog about testing with a TDS meter. Some of the things I discuss below about testing with an Electrolyzer also relate to testing with a TDS meter.
Incorrect test method
Vendors using these testing methods sell products in which, after filtering, very little or no minerals remain in the water (with a very low TDS value). They compare the filtered water to tap water. In the U.S., they also call this the "water scam test.
People who post the videos on YouTube usually compare Spa blue water to tap water. That's because of all the mineral waters Spa blue contains the least calcium and magnesium. On average, tap water contains between 8 - 15 mg/liter of magnesium and 44 - 72 mg/liter of calcium. Spa contains 1.3 mg/liter of magnesium and 4.5 mg/liter of calcium.
Obviously there are more substances in water but these 2 are the most abundant and will also be abundantly and spectacularly visible. So these are minerals!
Why does the water change color?
It's actually quite simple:
- The water from the water filter to be sold contains very little to no minerals.
- This water can NOT conduct electricity since minerals must be present in the water to conduct electricity.
- If no electricity is present, no chemical reactions can take place, resulting in the discoloration of the water.
The results of the filtered water are compared with:
- Tap water, as well as filtered water in which minerals are retained or to which a little minerals are added, bottles of mineral water of different brands which contain minerals.
- Because of the minerals present, electricity GOES to flow through the water like a current.
- This can then also cause precipitation and electrochemical reactions that discolor the water. It can take on different colors depending on the type and amount of minerals present in the water. Sometimes the water will bubble or form a goo.
- This color change is normal and is to be expected when minerals are present in the water.
This electrochemical reaction shows that the water contains minerals. Minerals are mobile charged ions and only these ions can conduct electricity. Water that contains minerals will also show a higher number on the TDS meter.
Neutral (uncharged) compounds such as sugar, alcohol, many organic substances (including chemicals, drugs, hormones, many pesticides and their residues) and non-ionized forms of silica, ammonia and carbon dioxide do not conduct electricity and therefore are not visible in a TDS measurement or electrolysis test.
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
