Electrolytes

Table of Contents

• • What are Electrolytes?
  • Recommended Videos
  • Electrolytes Explanation
  • List of Electrolytes
  • Understanding Electrolytes
  • Frequently Asked Questions on Electrolytes

What are Electrolytes?

An electrolyte is a substance that dissociates in water into charged particles called ions. Positively charged ions are called cations. Negatively charged ions are called anions. Simply, an electrolyte is a substance that can conduct an electric current when melted or dissolved in water.

Electrolysis is the process of passing an electric current through a substance in the molten or aqueous state thereby decomposing it. Glucose and urea do not dissociate in water because they have no electric charge. Therefore, these substances are called nonelectrolytes. The electrolyte is a compound which conducts electricity in the molten state or when dissolved in water.

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Electrolytes Explanation

An ionic compound for example, sodium chloride dissolved in water is called an electrolyte because it conducts electricity. Electrolytes are important body constituents because they,

• • • • Conduct electricity, essential for muscle and nerve function.
      • Exert osmotic pressure, keeping body fluids in their own compartments.
      • Act as before to resist pH changes in body fluids.

Many biological compounds, for example, carbohydrates are not ionic and therefore have no electrical properties when dissolved in water. Important electrolytes other than sodium and chloride include potassium, calcium, bicarbonate and phosphate.

List of Electrolytes

1. Major Electrolytes Outside the Cell

Sodium and chloride, the major electrolytes in extracellular fluid, exert most of their influence outside the cell. Sodium concentration affects serum osmolality and extracellular fluid volume. Sodium also helps nerve and muscle cells interact. Chloride helps maintaining osmotic pressure. Gastric mucosal cells need chloride to produce hydrochloric acid, which breaks down food into absorbable components.

Calcium and bicarbonate are two other electrolytes found in extracellular fluid. Calcium is the major cation involved in the structure and function of bones and teeth. Calcium is needed to

• • • • stabilize the cell membrane and reduce its permeability to sodium transmit nerve impulses
      • contract muscles
      • coagulate blood
      • form bone and teeth
      • bicarbonate plays a vital role in acid base balance.

2. Major Electrolytes Inside the Cell

Potassium, phosphate and magnesium are among the most abundant electrolytes inside the cell.

Potent potassium

• • • • Potassium plays an important role in
      • cell excitability regulation
      • nerve impulse conduction
      • resting membrane potential
      • muscle contraction and myocardial membrane responsiveness
      • intracellular osmolality control

Fundamental phosphorus

The body contains phosphorus in the form of phosphate salts. Sometime the word phosphorus in the form of phosphate salts. Sometimes the words phosphorus and phosphate are used interchangeably. Phosphate is essential for energy metabolism. Combined with calcium, phosphate plays a key role in bone and tooth mineralization. It also helps maintain acid-base balance.

Magnesium acts as a catalyst for enzyme reactions. It regulates neuromuscular contraction promotes normal functioning of the nervous and cardiovascular systems, and cardiovascular systems and aids in protein synthesis and sodium and potassium ion transportation.

Understanding Electrolytes

Electrolytes help to regulate water distribution, govern acid base balance and transmit nerve impulses. They also contribute to energy generation and blood clotting. This table summarizes the functions of each of the body’s major electrolytes.

Electrochemical Cells

Electrochemical cells are of three basic types. The electrolytic cell, the galvanic cell, and the concentration cell. All such cells are similar in that they have four basic components. These components are

• • • • The electrolyte is the current-carrying medium between the anode and cathode. It usually is homogeneous in an aqueous solution, but in moist soil, it may vary locally as to concentration or kind of dissolved chemicals.
      • The anode is a metal or substance in contact with the electrolyte capable of conducting an electric current and corrodes by combining with chemicals in the electrolytes.
      • The cathode is also a metal contacting the electrolyte. It is not corroded but receives protection against corrosion.
      • The conductor extremely connects the anode and cathode and completes the circuit for current flow.

Electrolyte Movement

When cells die their contents spill into the extracellular area and upset the electrolyte balance. In this case, elevated levels of intracellular electrolytes are found in plasma.

Although electrolytes are generally concentrated in a specific compartment, they aren’t confined to these areas. Like fluids, they move around trying to maintain balance and electroneutrality.

Electrolyte Balance

Fluid and output acid-base balance hormone secretion and normal cell function can influence electrolyte balance. Because electrolytes and individual imbalances in one electrolyte can affect balance in others.

The body fluids contain a variety of dissolved chemicals that may be categorized as either nonelectrolytes or electrolytes. Nonelectrolytes are those compounds with covalent bonds that therefore do not dissociate when dissolved in water. Electrolytes are those compounds with at least one ionic bond that dissociate freely when dissolved in water.

Even though electrolytes exist inside and outside only the levels outside the cell in the bloodstream are measured. Although serum levels remain fairly stable throughout a person’s life span, understanding which levels are normal and which are abnormal is critical to decide quickly and appropriately to a patient’s electrolyte imbalance.