While your generator is the engine of the production process, the silver electrodes, or rods, are its very heart. The purity of these rods is the single most important factor in determining the purity of your final silver solution. In this guide, we'll explain the "four nines" purity standard and why it's a non-negotiable for quality.
What Does "99.99% Pure" Actually Mean?
The term "four nines pure" is a common industry standard that means the silver is certified to be 99.99% pure silver. The remaining 0.01% consists of only trace elements. It's crucial to distinguish this from other types of silver. For example, Sterling Silver, commonly used in jewellery, is only 92.5% pure and contains a significant amount of other metals, usually copper. Using a lower-purity silver like this would introduce those unwanted metals directly into your water during electrolysis, creating an impure and contaminated final product.
Why Purity is Non-Negotiable
The goal of using a generator is to create a solution containing only pure, microscopic silver particles suspended in pure, distilled water. The process of electrolysis works by releasing particles from whatever material the electrodes are made from. If the electrodes contain impurities, those impurities will be released directly into your solution. Using anything less than certified 99.99% pure silver defeats the entire purpose of creating a clean, high-quality solution for your research.
Identifying and Caring for Quality Electrodes
Quality electrodes should be solid, sturdy, and ideally sourced from a reputable supplier who can certify their purity. They require simple but regular maintenance to ensure they function efficiently for a long time. For detailed instructions on keeping your electrodes clean, please see our guide: Caring for Your Generator. The rods should be replaced when they become very thin, as this can affect the consistency of the process.
Conclusion
The quality of your final solution is entirely dependent on the quality of your starting materials - pure water and, just as importantly, pure silver. We are committed to this standard, which is why every generator from The Silver Lab includes certified 99.99% pure silver electrodes, sourced from reputable UK suppliers.