The term "colloidal" such as from the  colloidal silver water generator refers to a substance that consists of ultra-fine particles that do not dissolve, but remain suspended in a medium of different matter. These Ultra-fine particles are too small to be seen by the eye. The silver particles are electronically charged to activate the germicidal quality of the silver and allow the particles to remain suspended in the solution of deionized water.

A number of methods have been used to produce colloidal silver. The "grind" method used in the early 1900’s produced particles that were too large to stay in suspension. Stabilizers had to be added which tend to disturb the charge in the silver particles, thereby blocking their action and reducing their overall effectiveness. More recently, chemical processes have been used. These chemicals (acids) make it difficult getting the particles out of the solution.