Claim: The modified form of water, sealed inside a plastic container, can have an effect on the water inside the washing machine, presumably by "emitting" a negative charge. Specifically, it can cause all the water in the washing machine to dissociate into smaller water "molecules."

Fact: It’s hard to tell if "smaller water molecules" refers to just breaking apart water molecule clusters, or to the dissociation of water into ions (the more normal scientific use of the term ‘dissociate’). Let’s look at the chemistry of water, consider ing both possibilities.

All water has structure. It’s made up of molecules comprised of two hydrogen atoms, symbolized by H, and one oxygen atom, symbolized by O, and written chemically as H₂0. The H₂0 molecules always dissociate into ions and re-associate back into molecules according to the equation H₂0 <---> H⁺ + OH^-, but the extent of dissociation is extremely small, numerically equal to .00000000000001. (Scientists call this the dissociation constant for water, or Ka, 10^-14.) This dissociation is so small that water is universally considered a covalent (strongly bonded) molecule rather than an ionizable molecule. In fact, many other chemicals are soluble in water because they ionize in water much easier tha n the water will ionize. The level of dissociation of water to OH^- ions is so very minute that it cannot provide sufficient "energy" to be beneficial in any chemical process, including cleaning or laundering.

There is also the "flickering cluster" model of water which states that approximately 85% of water molecules exist in various size clusters, averaging about 25 molecules at room temperature, held together by hydrogen bonding forces. About 15% of the water molecules are "free," not hydrogen bonded to any other molecules. All the molecules are in rapid flux, with clusters constantly growing, shrinking, breaking apart and reforming.

Detergent replacement products typically claim that the "structured" water inside the product will emit a negative charge that causes the water outside the product to dissociate into smaller water "molecules" or components. Whether this means breaking dow n clusters to make more "free" water or creating hydrogen (H⁺) and hydroxide (OH^-) ions, energy is needed, and a lot of it! Dissociation of water molecules beyond that which naturally occurs (the Ka given above) involves the breaking of chemical bonds between the hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Breaking water clusters down to individual water molecules requires breaking hydrogren bonds. In either case, to dissociate every water molecule or cluster in only one gallon of water requires abo ut 100,000 Btu's of energy. That is enough energy to boil the water into steam, then raise its temperature to about 24,000° F, or about twice the surface temperature of the sun!

Put another way, assuming the product could work its magic on 15 gallons of water (a typical washing machine fill) and the washer could be set to run once per hour, the energy claimed to be produced by such a product would be enough to satisfy the continu ous energy needs of over 100 households (assuming 3000 Kwh of energy per home per month). Even if the technology were only 1% efficient, it would be far more valuable as a municipal power source than as a mere detergent replacement.

Overall, the claim of dissociating water into smaller water molecules, be it by breaking down clusters or ionization, defies the scientific, well-established nature of water, which has not changed for millions of years.