Colloidal Silver: A Definition

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Colloidal Silver

One of the best ways to understand any given topic is to break down the whole and review the individual components. First a definition of colloids.

Colloids
The dictionary defines a colloid as "a system in which finely divided particles, approximately 10 to 10,000 angstroms in size, are dispersed within a continuous medium in a manner that prevents them from being filtered easily or settled rapidly."

Colloids occur widely in nature. Your body's cells exist in a complex colloidal state. A colloid is a state of matter in which one substance is finely dispersed in another. The dispersed component has a very large surface area related to its volume.

Colloids are distinguished from suspensions in that the dispersed particles of a colloid are much smaller. They are approximately (1 - 500) X 10 to the -7 power cm. Because of this small size, the particles do not settle and cannot be filtered by ordinary techniques as can suspensions.

Colloids differ from solutions in which the dispersed particles are of molecular size. Colloids are classified according to the original phases of their constituents. A solid dispersed in a liquid is called a sol. A solid or semisolid colloidal system with a network like structure is a gel. An emulsion consists of one liquid dispersed in another liquid. An aerosol is a solid or liquid dispersed in a gas. A gas dispersed in a solid or liquid is called foam. Some alloys are colloids where a solid is dispersed in another solid.

Now that we have a basic understanding of colloids, let us examine the other half of the equation. We will start by taking a look at some of the various properties and usage of silver.

Silver

Colloidal Silver was used extensively before penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928. It was so common that it was listed in the physicians desk reference at the time as a suggested method to fight various infections. Silver has the ability to disable the metabolizing enzymes that many one celled organisms need to respire. In this manner, silver is able to deprive these pathogens of their "chemical lung".

NASA and hospitals both take advantage of this remarkable property. Silver compounds are being used in burn centers because they speed the healing process dramatically and prevent infection. NASA first used a silver water filtration system aboard the Apollo spacecraft and continues to do so.

Part of the reason for silvers diminished usage is due to the high cost of silver and expensive manufacturing procedures. Additionally, silver as an element cannot be patented and thus cannot offer exclusivity in the marketplace.

Misspellings: Coloidal Silver, Colliodal Silver, Collodal Silver, Calloidal Silver, Caloidal Silver, Coilodal Sliver, Coloidial Silver, Colloidial Silver, Collodial Silver.