Glossary
Terms - Colloids
Concise explanations provided, click on the term to be taken to more in depth information
absorption – the act or process of absorbing or the condition of being absorbed; not to be confused with adsorption
acid – a substance whose aqueous solution is characterized by a sour taste, the ability to turn blue litmus red, and the ability to react with bases and certain metals to form salts
acute – the onset of a condition over a short period of time
adsorption – the binding of molecules or particles to a surface
aggregation – many of the same thing clinging together to make a larger whole thing – an aggregate
analyte – a substance that is undergoing chemical analysis to quantify and/or qualify something about it that is unknown
anion – An ion with an overall negative charge
anode – A positive electrode . In electrophoresis anions are attracted to the anode.
aqueous solution – a solution with water as the solvent .
argyria – A condition caused by over exposure to certain forms of Silver; this condition results in bluish gray skin
atom – a basic unit of matter in which a dense nucleus is surrounded by a negatively charged cloud of electrons
base – an aqueous solution that has a pH higher than 7, reacts with acids to form salts, promotes some chemical reactions, has a bitter taste and a slippery feel
bio-active – an adjective characterizing a substance that effects living tissue
bio-available – an adjective characterizing a substance that can be absorbed and utilized by living tissue
bio-accumulate – to increase in concentration within living tissue
BPA – an acronym for Biphenol A – an organic compound found in some plastics that the FDA identified as possibly hazardous to fetuses, infants and young children
Brownian motion – the random, chaotic motion of particles suspended in a fluid
cathode – a negative electrode out of which electric current flows in a two pole electrical set up
cation – an ion with a net positive charge, usually due to one or more missing electrons
chronic – a condition which persists over a long period of time
coagulation – the transformation of a liquid into a soft, or semi-soft, solid mass
colloidal Copper – true colloidal Copper, such as MediCOPPER, consists of nanometer sized Copper particles evenly dispersed and held in suspension within a liquid (usually water) due to the net charge on the Copper nanoparticles and their interaction with the liquid
colloidal Gold – true colloidal Gold, such as MediGOLD, consists of nanometer sized Gold particles evenly dispersed and held in suspension within a liquid (usually water) due to the net charge on the Gold nanoparticles and their interaction with the liquid
colloidal Platinum – true colloidal Platinum, such as MediPLATINUM, consists of nanometer sized Platinum particles evenly dispersed and held in suspension within a liquid (usually water) due to the net charge on the Platinum nanoparticles and their interaction with the liquid
colloidal Silver – true colloidal Silver, such as MediSILVER BLACK, consists of nanometer sized Silver particles evenly dispersed and held in suspension within a liquid (usually water) due to the net charge on the Silver nanoparticles and their interaction with the liquid
colloidal Zinc – true colloidal Zinc, such as MediZINC, consists of nanometer sized Zinc particles evenly dispersed and held in suspension within a liquid (usually water) due to the net charge on the Zinc nanoparticles and their interaction with the liquid
colloid stability – the stability of a colloidal suspension of nanoparticles in a polar liquid, such as water, due to the mutual repulsion that exists between the nanoparticles and the attraction that exists for the nanoparticles by the polar liquid
compound – a pure substance consisting of two or more different elements that can be separated into simpler substances through the use of chemical reactions
element – a pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances
elemental Copper – Copper in its natural metallic, rather than ionic, state
elemental Gold – Gold in its natural metallic, rather than ionic, state
elemental Platinum – Platinum in its natural metallic, rather than ionic, state
elemental Silver – Silver in its natural metallic, rather than ionic, state
elemental Zinc – Zinc in its natural metallic, rather than ionic, state
Gold deficient – a condition in which the micro-nutrient requirements of the mineral Gold is deficient within living tissue
heavy metal – The label “heavy metal” does not refer to the density or atomic mass of a metal, but instead refers to metals that are dangerous or toxic. There is no standard by which a metal is designated as a heavy metal – a heavy metal is a toxic metal. Though most heavy metals have a high atomic number, atomic weight, and a specific gravity greater than 5.0, there are some lighter metals and metalloids which, because they are toxic, are deemed heavy metals; and yet some metals which are indeed heavy, such as Gold, are not toxic. Heavy metals include some metalloids, transition metals, basic metals, lanthanides and actinides. Examples of heavy metals include Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, some forms of Chromium. Metals such as Iron, Copper, Zinc, Aluminum, Beryllium, Cobalt, Manganese and Arsenic have been deemed as heavy metals on occasion, but many may disagree with this; we need Iron, Copper and Zinc in our diet – so how toxic can they be? Gold, platinum and other high density metals are not “heavy metals” in terms of this usage. Lead fillings are toxic, while Gold fillings are not. Lead will give you heavy metal poisoning – Gold ( although it has a much higher density – will not give you heavy metal poisoning and is indeed not classified as a “heavy metal”.
ion – an atom or molecule in which the total number of electrons is more, or less, than the total number of protons – more resulting in a negatively charged ion (anion) or less resulting in a positively charged ion (cation)
ionic Gold – A solution consisting of water and gold ions (dissolved gold) usually in the form of Au+3 ions, with chloride being the companion anion.. Contains no gold particles and does not exhibit a Tyndall Effect. Ionic gold has been reported to be neurotoxic which means it is toxic to nerve cells. Gold (III) chloride (ionic gold) is potentially harmful to humans if ingested. See the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for gold chloride for more information on toxicity.
Ionic gold should not be confused with colloidal gold which consists of metallic gold particles and is not harmful to humans.
MediCOPPER – the trademarked brand name of solution consisting of 99.99+% pure Copper as bio-available nanoparticles – colloidally dispersed and suspended in pure, pharmaceutical grade water. MediCOPPER – the trademarked brand name of solution consisting of 99.99+% pure Copper as bio-available nanoparticles colloidally dispersed and suspended in pure, pharmaceutical grade water.
MediGOLD – the trademarked brand name of solution consisting of 99.99+% pure Gold as bio-available nanoparticles – colloidally dispersed and suspended in pure, pharmaceutical grade water.
MediSILVER AMBER – the trademarked brand name of solution consisting of 99.99+% pure Silver as bio-available nanoparticles – colloidally dispersed and suspended in pure, pharmaceutical grade water. MediSILVER AMBER is traditional colloidal Silver.
MediSILVER BLACK – the trademarked brand name of solution consisting of 99.99+% pure Silver as bio-available nanoparticles – colloidally dispersed and suspended in pure, pharmaceutical grade water. MediSILVER BLACK is true colloidal Silver.
MediSILVER CLEAR – the trademarked brand name of solution consisting of 99.99+% pure Silver as Silver ions in pure, pharmaceutical grade water. MediSILVER CLEAR is ionic “colloidal” Silver.
MediZINC – the trademarked brand name of solution consisting of 99.99+% pure Zinc as bio-available nanoparticles colloidally dispersed and suspended in pure, pharmaceutical grade water.
MediPLATINUM – the trademarked brand name of solution consisting of 99.99+% pure Copper as bio-available nanoparticles colloidally dispersed and suspended in pure, pharmaceutical grade water.
metallic Silver – Refers to silver particles found in colloidal silver as opposed to silver in ionic form.
micron – one millionth of a meter (10 -6 meter)
nanometer (nm) – one billionth of a meter (10-9 meters)
nanoparticle – a solid cluster of atoms
neurotoxin – a poisonous substance that attacks and damages the nervous system
pharmaceutical grade water – water made to the exacting specifications of the World Health Organization
solution – a homogeneous mixture of a liquid solvent with a gas or solid solute
solvent – a liquid that dissolves another substance, or substances, to form a solution
suspension – A mixture in which small solid or liquid particles are suspended in a liquid or gas.
true colloidal Gold – a colloidal Gold solution mainly consisting of elemental, non-ionic, Gold nanoparticles
true colloidal Silver – a colloidal Silver solution mainly consisting of elemental, non-ionic, Silver nanoparticles
Tyndall effect (TE) – named after John Tyndall, it refers to the scattering of light as is passes through a medium containing small particles
zeta potential – the measurement of the magnitude of the attraction or repulsion between charged particles