What are pH and ORP?
Understanding the key concepts of ionization and the important health benefits of alkaline ionized water
pH Scale
The pH scale measures the concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺) in water, indicating how acidic or basic (alkaline) a substance is. It ranges from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is neutral, a pH less than 7 is acidic, and a pH greater than 7 is alkaline (or basic).
Since pH means potential hydrogen, the pH unit value is the concentration of hydrogen ions in the water. Acidic solutions (solutions with higher concentrations of hydrogen (H⁺) ions) are measured to have lower pH values than basic or alkaline solutions.
Understanding pH Balance
At a pH of 7, water has an equal number of hydrogen ions (H⁺) and hydroxyl ions (OH⁻).
At a pH of 8, water has a tenfold greater concentration of OH⁻ ions than it does H⁺ ions, and a hundredfold greater concentration at pH of 9, so on and so forth.
As one can observe, each pH unit value represents a tenfold difference between the hydrogen ion (H⁺) concentration and hydroxyl ion (OH⁻) concentration in the water.
Alkaline Water with Reducing Power (-ORP)
ORP (Oxidation-Reduction Potential)
ORP, or oxidation-reduction potential, measures the ability of water to oxidize or reduce molecules around it, or in other words, it's potential to steal or donate electrons. A higher ORP indicates a greater ability to oxidize, while a lower ORP indicates a greater ability to reduce.
Alkaline water must contain alkaline minerals and negative oxidation-reduction potential (ORP).
ORP is the ability of water to act as a pro- or antioxidant. The more negative the ORP value, the more anti-oxidizing it is.
Positive ORP (+mV)
Indicates high oxidizing power - the ability to steal electrons, causing oxidation. This is associated with free radicals that can damage cells.
Negative ORP (-mV)
Indicates high reducing power - the ability to donate electrons, acting as an antioxidant. This helps neutralize free radicals in the body.
A numerical value indicating the oxidation of a substance caused by losing electrons, or the intensity of a substance's tendency to be reduced by receiving electrons. A value of (+)mV indicates high oxidizing power, and (-)mV indicates high reducing power.
Why This Matters
pH and ORP are key concepts to understand ionization and the important health benefits of alkaline ionized water.
Optimal pH Levels
Alkaline ionized water typically ranges from pH 8.5 to 11.5, providing optimal alkalinity for health benefits.
Antioxidant Power
Negative ORP values indicate antioxidant capacity, helping to neutralize free radicals in the body.