The terms “ionized water” and “alkaline water” are frequently used interchangeably, creating a common misunderstanding about their chemical nature and production. While the two concepts are closely related, they describe different aspects of water: one is a chemical state, and the other is a physical process. To clarify this confusion, it is necessary to examine the chemical definition of alkalinity and the electrochemical process known as ionization. Understanding the difference between the resulting product and the method used to create it provides the needed clarity on this topic.
Defining Alkaline Water
Alkaline water is purely a description of a chemical state, specifically its potential of hydrogen (pH) level. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, where a value of 7 is considered chemically neutral. Any substance with a pH below 7 is acidic, and anything with a pH above 7 is classified as basic, or alkaline. Standard drinking water typically falls within a neutral range, often between pH 6.5 and 7.5.
Alkalinity is determined by the concentration of ions within the water. Water molecules naturally dissociate into positive hydrogen ions (\(H^+\)) and negative hydroxide ions (\(OH^-\)). In neutral water, these two ion types are present in equal, balanced concentrations. Alkaline water has a higher concentration of hydroxide ions relative to hydrogen ions, shifting the pH reading above the neutral mark, commonly reaching values between pH 8 and 9. This higher concentration of \(OH^-\) ions is the sole factor that defines water as alkaline, irrespective of how that state was achieved.
Understanding Water Ionization
Water ionization is a specific manufacturing process that utilizes electricity, formally called electrolysis, to separate water molecules. This process occurs within a specialized device, known as a water ionizer, which contains electrodes separated by a membrane. As water flows through this chamber, a direct electrical current is applied. This current attracts the positively charged ions to the negative electrode (cathode) and the negatively charged ions to the positive electrode (anode).
The result is the splitting of the water into two distinct streams. At the cathode, the process concentrates alkali minerals and negative hydroxide ions, creating a stream of significantly alkaline water. Simultaneously, at the anode, the process concentrates acidic ions and positive hydrogen ions, yielding a separate stream of acidic water. Ionization refers to the entire electrochemical process of splitting the water into its component ionic streams.
The Critical Distinction and Overlap
The answer to whether ionized water is the same as alkaline water is simply no, though the two concepts are intimately linked. “Ionized water” refers to any water that has undergone the process of electrolysis, which is a method of production. “Alkaline water” refers to the resulting chemical state, defined by a pH greater than 7. This distinction is made clear because the ionization process creates two types of water: one alkaline and one acidic.
The water collected from the cathode side of the ionizer is correctly identified as both ionized and alkaline. Conversely, the water collected from the anode side is also ionized, having gone through the exact same process, but it is acidic. It is therefore inaccurate to use “ionized water” as a synonym for only alkaline water, since the process inherently creates an acidic water product as well.
Methods of Alkalinity
Alkaline water is not exclusively created through the process of ionization, which reinforces the distinction between the chemical state and the production method. Nature creates alkaline water as it flows over various mineral deposits, such as limestone and calcium carbonate, which dissolve and naturally raise the water’s pH. This type of water is alkaline due to its mineral content, but it has not been ionized.
Commercially, water can be made alkaline through the addition of mineral compounds or chemical buffers. Manufacturers often add alkaline salts, such as magnesium, calcium, or baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), to increase the concentration of hydroxide ions. These added minerals dissolve in the water and raise the pH level, making the water alkaline without ever exposing it to an electrical current.