Conductometric studies of the serially diluted and agitated solutions on an anomalous effect that depends on the dilution process

We analysed the experimental data related to the specific conductivities of several serially diluted and agitated solutions (SDA for short). The experimental procedure consisted in measuring the specific conductivity, chi (mu S cm(-1)), of samples of SDA we prepared several months before. After characterizing the SDA, we diluted them with twice distilled water at several ratio of dilution, ranging from 1:1 to 1:10. The diluted solutions so obtained were systematically studied via conductometric measurements. The results put in evidence a new and extraordinary phenomenon, in that while X of the diluted SDA followed the expected proportionality with the dilution ratio, their temporal evolution was greatly modified, giving rise to higher increases with age. Actually, in many cases, the conductivities of the "simply" diluted SDA were higher than those of the samples, of the same age, that were not subject to the dilution procedure. In such behaviour, that we call "constructive", the experimental conductivity would more rapidly increase after the dilution, by using the added water. This new phenomenon does not fit into the framework of the thermodynamics of near equilibrium systems, and it seems natural to base its interpretation on the thermodynamics of far from equilibrium systems. A simple rationalizing hypothesis is put forth, based on the concept of dissipative structures, that is consistent with the more general idea of water as a system capable of auto-organizing, when elicited by even small perturbations, and then able to sustain a far from equilibrium state. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.