pH and ORP

Views [3047]    Published:2015-12-16 11:57:43

About pH

pH stands for “potential hydrogen”. It measures alkalinity or acidity on the pH scale that runs from pH0 to pH14. A pH7 is neutral which means it is neither alkaline nor acidic. Values below pH7 neutral are said to be acidic and values above pH7 are alkaline. The scale is logarithmic (like the Richter Scale), meaning each full point increases or decreases by a factor of x10 rather than a single unit. For example a pH8 is ten times more alkaline than pH7, and a pH9 would be 10×10, or one hundred times more alkaline than neutral. Typical tap water runs at between pH6.5 and pH7.25 although extremes exist.

                           neutral pH = 7,0    /    acidic pH < 7,0    /    alkaline pH > 7,0 

About ORP

ORP = Oxydation Reduction Potential. The other way an ionizer alters the water is to turn it into a powerful antioxidant, measured as ORP (“Oxidation Reduction Potential”) – It is a more complex concept and is an extremely difficult measure accurately. ORP is sometimes referred to as “Redox”. An ionizer’s alteration of the ORP of your drinking water is what causes the micro clustering, antioxidant and hydrating effects.   ORP is a “potential” energy that is stored and ready to be put to work. An analogous way to look at ORP would be to consider pressure. When you blow up a balloon you use energy that creates force. As long as the balloon remains closed, this force is a “stored potential energy” in this case measured as air pressure. When released, this “potential” energy becomes kinetic energy.   Potential electrical energy in liquid can be measured. It is measured with an ORP meter. These meters display extremely slight, and highly variable differences in the electrical properties of water. ORP readings are expressed in millivolts (1/1000 of a single volt). ORP meters range in price from $100 for a handheld “tester” to over $3,000 for more sophisticated laboratory equipment. Regular cleaning and calibrating with proper solutions is even more crucial than with pH meters to achieve accurate and consistent readings.   ORP measures the presence of oxidizing or [oxidation] reducing agents by their specific electrical charge, thus Oxidation Reduction “Potential”. Oxidation in simple terms is what turns an apple brown after it is cut or causes metal to rust. Rust weakens metal and signifies the deterioration of the apple. High pH water has more “reducing” agents (-ORP) and low pH water has more oxidizing agents ( ORP).The ORP of most tap water in the USA is between 150 to 600mv and so is an oxidizing agent. High pH ionized water demonstrates a –ORP and so is a reducing agent or “antioxidant”.

Alkaline Ionized Water for human consumption should be at an ideal PH level of 8.5 to 9.5 and no greater than 10.0 with an ideal ORP value around -200mV to -300mV and no greater than -400 mV. PH values higher than 10 are unfit for human consumption as indicated by the World Health Organization and the Environmental Protection Agency. In fact water with high ph values such as 11 is found in ammonia solution and a ph value of 13 is the ph value found in household bleach! Upon producing Alkaline ionized water from any water ionizer device for purposes such as a water detox, the antioxidant (hydroxyl ions) will last a maximum of 18 to 24 hours.   For this reason the water should be drank immediately upon leaving the machine or within at most six hours time as the water will begin to lose its antioxidant properties immediately upon leaving the water ionizer and eventually become similar to water from ordinary countertop water purifiers. Since the antioxidant hydroxyl ions are fleeting in nature, bottling or storing Alkaline Ionized Water is in no way capable of preserving the therapeutic effects of the water, and you would be better off purchasing bottled electrolyte drinks than purchasing bottled alkaline ionized water as after 24 hours all you will end up with is bottled water of a higher PH devoid of all antioxidant properties as the hydroxyl ions will have all disappeared.   To receive the most therapeutic benefits of your ionized water from any water ionizers device, be sure to drink your alkaline water when it is fresh out of the machine or at most within six hours time at an ideal drinking water PH level of about 8.5 to 9.5 and an ORP in no way significantly greater than -400 mV.