Understanding ppm: What the Most Important Number on the Label Means

“ppm” stands for parts per million. One ppm means: in a million parts of water floats one part of the element. In practical terms, 1 ppm equals exactly 1 milligram of element per litre. A solution of 50 ppm thus contains 50 milligrams of elemental mineral per litre — and one of 250 ppm five times as much.

High ppm values are hard to achieve — especially with precious metals. With classic electrolysis devices, gold, for example, dissolves agonizingly slowly: after ten to twelve hours a home device barely reaches a single ppm. Whoever promises 50 ppm of gold must therefore either master a fundamentally different process — or write a number on the label that is not present in the water. Both happen; only one of them is honest.

With true colloids the colour betrays the content: gold colloid shows a distinct pink from 10 ppm and glows deep ruby red at 50 ppm, while silver colloid turns golden yellow to amber brown as the content rises. A water-clear solution with a high ppm figure on the label contradicts physics.