Ions are formed when an electron is detached from a neutral molecule (or atom). The molecule losing an electron becomes a positive ion and the molecule gaining an electron becomes a negative ion.
The earth itself produces negative ions. Our sun's energy is generated by the chain reaction of Hydrogen being converted into Helium, then back again. This process produces the heat that sustains life on Earth, but also showers our planet with positive ions of Hydrogen as a by-product.
The forces of nature produce both negative and positive ions in abundance (a ratio of five positive to four negative ions). High levels of negative air ions are created by lightning, rolling surf, cosmic rays, waterfalls and UV light. Today's lifestyle destroys our natural environment, depleting negative oxygen ions and causing detrimental effects to all living creatures.
Are Negative Ions the Same Size?
No, there are small, medium and large negative ions. Small (ingestible) negative ions are highly mobile and are biologically active.
Medium to large negative ions are sluggish and slow moving and merely clean the air. The following diagram illustrates the principle of small air ion production.
These molecule groups are called small ions or clusters. They can also join up with larger neutral particles and form "small medium ions", "large medium ions", "large ions" or "ultra large ions" depending on particle size.
However, it is essentially only the small ions which are biologically active.
These possess an electrical mobility which is greater than 1 cm²/ Vs.
The electrical mobility specifies the average velocity of an ion in an electric field. This is approx. 1.9 cm²/ Vs for negative small ions and approx. 1.4 cm²/ Vs for positive small ions. In an electric field with a field strength of 1 V/ cm, small ions thus reach a velocity of 1.9 cm²/ s and 1.4 cm²/ s respectively.
