Dissolved Solids
Definition
Matter that has been dismantled at the molecular level so individual ions disappear into the hydrogen-bond network and move wherever the water moves.
Once dissolved, the original solid no longer exists and the species cannot be removed by conventional filtration. In the classical lab test a filtered sample is evaporated and the residue weighed, reported in mg/L. Most relevant dissolved solids are inorganic ions smaller than 0.002 microns that govern scaling tendency, corrosion, buffering capacity, and conductivity. Groundwater accumulates dissolved minerals over years of contact, producing water that looks clear but carries a strong chemical signature.
Related concepts
Conductivity · Total Dissolved Solids Measurement · Three Fates of Matter
How it connects
- this requires Three Fates of Matter
- this drives Scale
- Water as a Solvent enables this
- Solubility drives this
- Cycles of Concentration concentrates this
Part of The Blueprint of Water · 📏 measurement