Chemically salts that dissociate in solution and will carry an electric current; clinically used to mean the mineral salts of blood plasma and other body fluids, especially sodium and potassium.
Electrolytes are nutrients that affect fluid balance in the body and are necessary for nerves and muscles to function. Sodium and potassium are the two electrolytes most often added to sports drinks.
Any compound (e.g., salt, acid, base, etc.) which in aqueous solution dissociates into ions (charged atom-sized particles). Electrolytes may either be strong (completely or nearly completely dissociated) or weak (only partially dissociated).
In my context, acids, bases, and salts that contribute to the maintenance of electrical charges, membrane integrity, and acid-alkaline balance in the blood and lymph.
Electrically-charged ions or salts that are important for staying hydrated and can be found in many natural foods or sports drinks.
Substances that conduct electricity in solution. Usually they are salts of minerals—such as sodium, potassium, and chloride—that are dissolved in blood and cellular fluids. Electrolytes are required for the proper functioning of many organs, including the heart.
Ionized salts present in blood and tissue fluids and within cells. They are involved in all metabolic processes and are essential to the normal functioning of all cells.
A substance that dissociates into ions when fused or in solution, and thus becomes capable of conducting electricity; an ionic solute.
A substance that, in solution, is capable of conducting an electric current are important in the prevention of heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.
A chemical solution which can conduct electricity.
An electrically charged particle (anion or cation).
Electrolytes are electrically charged ions that include sodium, potassium, chlorine, calcium, and magnesium. Blood plasma and extracellular fluids mainly contain the minerals sodium and chlorine, while potassium is the main mineral in the intracellular fluid. Sodium and potassium have an important role across cell membranes. These electrolytes maintain an electrical gradient, which stimulates the transmission of nerve impulses, stimulates muscle contraction, and maintains gland activities.
Substances that break up into electrically charged particles when dissolved or melted in fluids, such as the blood, and are vital to the normal functioning of the body. Some kinds of disorders, such as metabolic disorders, more general disorders, such as dehydration resulting from diarrhea, and sometimes drug or alcohol abuse can cause loss of electrolytes or imbalance between them (acid-base imbalance), disrupting the body and sometimes even threatening life. Among the key electrolytes are sodium (important in maintaining fluid balance), calcium (needed for the relaxation of skeletal muscle and contraction of heart muscle), potassium (needed for contraction of skeletal muscle and relaxation of heart muscle), chloride, hydrogen, magnesium, bicarbonate, proteins, phosphate, and sulfate.
Chemical (element or compound) in the body that when dissolved produces ions, conducts an electric current, and is itself changed in the process. The proper amount and equilibrium of certain electrolytes (e.g., calcium, sodium, potassium) in the body is essential for normal health and functioning.
Soluble, inorganic ions, such as sodium and chloride, found in body fluids.
A chemical compound that, when dissolved or melted, breaks up into charged particles (ions) capable of conducting electricity. Electrolytes remain in balance in tissues and body fluids to ensure adequate body functioning.
A chemical substance capable of conducting electricity because it dissociates into electrically charged particles (ions) when dissolved or melted. Electrolytes are involved in metabolic activities and are essential to the normal function of all body cells, especially the heart’s electrical system. The most important ions found in body fluids are those involving sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, bicarbonate, and phosphate. Electrolyte balance depends on adequate intake of water and electrolytes.
A solution that produces ions (an ion is an atom or group of atoms that conduct electricity); for example, sodium chloride solution consists of free sodium and free chloride ions. In medical usage electrolyte usually means the ion itself; thus the term serum electrolyte level means the concentration of separate ions (sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, etc.) in the circulating blood. Concentrations of various electrolyte levels can be altered by many diseases, in which electrolytes are lost from the body (as in vomiting or diarrhea) or are not excreted and accumulate (as in renal failure). When electrolyte concentrations are severely diminished they can be corrected by administering the appropriate substance by mouth or by intravenous drip. When excess of an electrolyte exists it may be removed by dialysis or by special resins in the intestine, taken by mouth or by enema.
Substances, for example, potassium chloride, whose molecules split into their constituent electrically charged particles, known as ions, when dissolved in fluid. In medicine the term is customarily used to describe the ion itself. The description ‘serum electrolyte concentration means the amounts of separate ions for example, sodium and chloride in the case of salt present in the serum of the circulating blood. Various diseases alter the amounts of electrolytes in the blood, either because more than normal are lost through vomiting or diarrhoea, or because electrolytes may be retained as the kidney fails to excrete them properly. Measurements of electrolytes are valuable clues to the type of disease, and provide a means of monitoring a course of treatment. Electrolyte imbalances can be corrected by administering appropriate substances orally or intravenously, or by dialysis.
Electrolytes are chemicals, such as calcium, potassium, and sodium, dissolved in blood or cellular fluids that act as a vital messenger for many bodily processes. Electrolytes are essential for example, in maintaining heart rhythm and kidney function; dehydration and certain drugs can disrupt electrolyte balance.
A substance that breaks up into ions (electrically charged particles) when it is dissolved in body fluids or water. Some examples of electrolytes are sodium, potassium and calcium. Electrolytes are primarily responsible for the movement of nutrients into cells and the movement of wastes out of cells.
One of the dissolved substances found in water that regulates cell processes.
A paste or liquid substance with conducting properties where the movement of electric current occurs through the migration of ions.
A substance that undergoes molecular dissociation, breaking into its constituent ions (electrically charged particles) when dissolved or melted. Sodium chloride (table salt), for instance, dissociates into sodium cations (positively charged ions) and chloride anions (negatively charged ions) when dissolved in water.