Structured Silver vs Colloidal Silver

Are you comparing the benefits of structured silver with older forms of silver? While several forms of silver can be useful health tools, it is important to understand the many differences that distinguish the old from the new.

To begin with, this primer on colloidal silver is a good place to start for many people.


Old & New Silver Technologies

 

  Older Colloidal or
Ionic Silver
Structured Silver
Date of Development Late 1800's Early 2010's
Safety Mixed Safe
pH Acidic Mild Alkaline
Parts Per Million (ppm) 5 - 300,000 ppm 10 - 30 ppm
Bio-Availability 15-65% Exceeds 99%
Can Cause Argyria Yes No Known Cases
Color Brown, Yellow or Silver Colorless
Taste Strong Metallic Flavour Faint Metallic Aftertaste
Odor Distinct Odorless

Silver Terminology

If you are confused about the terms used for silver's different forms, here are some definitions (source):

Colloid
A colloid is a particle between 1 and 0.001 micrometers in diameter that is evenly dispersed throughout another substance. A colloidal system may be liquid, solid, or gaseous. Examples of colloidal substances include whipped cream, styrofoam, fog, milk, smoke, and blood. To learn more about colloids, see this infographic:

Colloidal silver
A colloidal system with small particles (colloids) of silver evenly dispersed within a liquid, typically water. Colloidal silver has been produced in a wide variety of forms for over 100 years, with variations in concentration, purity, stability, colloid size, molecular structure, etc. These variations result in vastly different substances that are commonly referred to under the general term "colloidal silver."

The limitation of this generalized term is exemplified by examining a similar generalized term: "car." If one uses the word "car" in conversation, is one referring to a sedan, a sports coupe, a large luxury car, or a tiny hatchback? Does it refer to a car from 1920, 1957, 1975, or 2016? A Ford, Datsun, Toyota, Tata, or Maserati? Thus, as a general term, "car" is quite effective in everyday use, but more specific terms are needed (eg. "2014 Lexus GS 350 F Sport RWD") in other contexts. Similarly, "colloidal silver" is a useful term in some contexts, but limiting in situations where the differences between older and newer technologies are important.

Ion
An atom or molecule with an unequal number of electrons and protons. As a result, an ion has a net positive or negative charge. If the ion has a negative charge (it has more electrons than protons), it is called an anion. If the ion has a positive charge (it has fewer electrons than protons), it is called a cation.

Ionic silver
The state of silver in an ionic form, ionic silver is commonly found within creams and liquids. Prior to the advent of digital photography, ionic silver was in widespread use as one of the chemicals employed to process film.

Sol (re: colloid)
A sol is substance where particles of a solid material are evenly mixed within a liquid and these particles are very small (1 to 0.001 micrometers in diameter.) A sol is a colloidal system.

If the liquid in this system is water, the sol may also be called a hydrosol or aquasol. Some silver products marketed as silver hydrosol or silver aquasol are named after their colloidal system, which contains a sol (silver) dispersed within a liquid (water.)

Structured silver
Advanced manufacturing techniques used to combine silver and water to produce an aqueous, ultra-dilute, safe, highly effective structured silver product with characteristics superior to silvers on the market made from sols and ionic colloids.