2. INTRODUCTION
The substance when dissolved in solution separates into negatively charged
ions & positively charged ions is able to carry an electrical current.
The negatively charged ions are called as anionic electrolytes & positively
charged ions are called as cationic electrolytes.
E.g. when sodium chloride is dissolved in water, it separates into ions as.
NaCl ---------- Na+ + Cl-
CLASSIFICATION OF ELECTROLYTES: Electrolytes are classified in to
two types such as
Intracellular Electrolytes 2. Extracellular Electrolytes
3. 1.Intracellular Electrolytes:
They are also known as intracellular anionic & cationic electrolytes.
The electrolytes present in intracellular fluid are known as Intracellular
Electrolytes.
The intracellular fluid is present inside the cell of the body.
E.g. Magnesium, Potassium, Chloride. Intracellular electrolytes are further
classified in to two types as follows.
Cationic electrolytes / Negatively charged ions:
Sodium:Na+ (10mEq/L & 135-145 mEq/L)
Potassium: K+ (140mEq/L & 4.5-5.5 mEq/L)
Anionic electrolytes / Positively charged ions:
Chloride: Cl- (4 mEq/L & 98-105 mEq/L)
Sulphate:SO4
2- (2 mEq/L & 03-1.5 mEq/L)
Bicarbonate: HCO3
- (10 mEq/L & 25-31 mEq/L)
4. 2.Extracellular Electrolytes
They are also known as extracellular anionic & cationic electrolytes.
The electrolytes present in extracellular fluid are known as
Exntracellular Electrolytes.
The extracellular fluid is present outside the cell of the body.
Extracellular fluids further divided into intravascular fluid.
E.g. plasma &Extravascularfluid. E.g. cerebro spinal fluid. E.g. Sodium,
chloride, calcium.
Extracellular electrolytes are further classified in to two types as
follows.
Cationic electrolytes / Negatively charged ions:
Sodium:Na+ (142mEq/L & 135-145 mEq/L)
Potassium: K+ (4mEq/L & 4.5-5.5 mEq/L)
Calcium: Ca2+ (2.4mEq/L & 2.1-2.6 mEq/L)
Anionic electrolytes / Positively charged ions:
Chloride: Cl- (103mEq/L & 98-105 mEq/L)
Sulphate:SO4
2- (1 mEq/L & 03-1.5 mEq/L)
Bicarbonate: HCO3
- (28 mEq/L & 25-31 mEq/L)
5. IMPORTANCE OR FUNCTIONS OF MAJOR INTRACELLULAR & EXTRACELLULAR
ELECTROLYTES:
1. Calcium:
It helps to maintain acid-base & water balance.
It is important in the maintenance of healthy bone and teeth.
It is important for regulation of permeability of membrane.
It is important for coagulation of blood.
It is also essential for activation of enzyme.
It is also essential for growth of children.
It is essential for contraction of various smooth muscles.
It is essential in the transmission of nerve impulses across synapses,
In cardiovascular system (CVS) Calcium is essential for contraction coupling in
cardiac muscles as well as for the conduction of electric impulse in certain
regions of heart.
If the levels of calcium fall below normal level both muscles and nerves
become more excitable.
It is involved in cell – to cell contact and adhesion of cell in a tissue.
It is involved in processes such as endocytosis, exocytosis and cell motility.
It mediates the secretions of hormones such as insulin and parathyroid
hormone.
6. 2.Sodium:
It helps to regulates acid-base along with chloride &
bicarbonate.
It helps to maintain osmotic pressure and fluid balance.
It is important in muscle excitability and is necessary for
initiating and maintain the heartbeat.
It pays aimportant role in cell permeability.
It is used in absorption of glucose, galactose& amino acids
in the intestine.
It is the major inorganic component in many secretions like
saliva, gastric, pancreatic and intestinal juice.
In neurons the Na+- K+ pump maintains electric neutrality.
It is involved in formation of bile salt
7. 3.Potassium
It helps to maintain intracellular osmotic pressure.
It helps to regulates acid-base and water balance in the cell..
is essential in the transmission of nerve impulses.
The enzyme pyruvate kinase in glycolysis is dependant on K+ for its
optimum activity.
It is necessary for protein biosynthesis.
H+ -K+ ATPase plays a role in the transport of ions across the cell
membrane.
Extracellular K+ influnsnces the activity of cardiac cycle.
4.Chloride
It is important in formation of hydrochloric acid (HCl) in gastric juice,
which is isotonic with blood plasma.
It helps to regulates acid-base balance.
It is required in transportation of gas.
In presence of chloride amylase of starch converts in to dextrin &
maltose.
8. 5.Phosphate
It is an major intracellular negatively charged electrolytes
It is essential for maintain the water balance in the body.
It helps for the formation of bones and teeth.
It helps for regulation of biochemical pathways by enzyme activation or
deactivation.
Mostly it is found in ATP, DNA, RNA
6. Magnesium
It act as cofactor for number of enzyme.
It plays a role in maintain reproductive functions.
It is required for cholesterol biosynthesis.
It is combined with calcium and phosphate utilized for formation of bone &
teeth.
It shows antioxidant function.
It is also essential for normal neuromuscular function.
It promotes glucose tolerance.
9. 7.Bicarbonate
It helps to maintain acid-base balance.
It helps to maintain proper hydration
It regulate osmotic pressure of the body
It helps to maintain electrolyte balance
It helps to maintain Gastric HCL
It helps for CO2 Transport
8.Sulphate
It is essentional for proper cell growth and development of the
organism.
It is involved in a manyessential biological processes, like biosynthesis
and detoxification via sulfation of many endogenous and exogenous
compounds
10. ELECTROLYTES USED IN THE REPLACEMENT THERAPY:
Under normal physiological conditions body mechanism adjust the
electrolyte balance and no replacement is required.
But under some pathological and disease there is deficiency of
particular electrolyte.
So administration of that electrolyte in exact concentration of tonicity
becomes required.
Electrolytes as sodium, potassium, calcium singly or in combination
with other constituents like dextrose, invert sugar and manitol is given
by oral route and by intravenous (parenteral) route to maintain the
electrolyte balance in our body
11. 1.Sodium chloride
Method of preparation:
In laboratories, when sodium and chlorine combine to produce sodium
chloride or simply NaCl.
2Na + Cl2-------------- 2NaCl
It is also prepared using reaction between sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric
acid
NaOH + HCl -------------- NaCl + H2O
Assay:
Principle: Assay of sodium chloride is performed using argentometric
titration.
Reaction:
AgNO3 + NaCl ------------- AgCl + NaNO3
Silver nitrate Sodium chloride Silver hloride Sodium nitrate
12. Procedure: Conical Flask:Take a conical flask having 250ml capacity and add 25 ml solution
of sodium chloride with the help of pippete
Burette:Titrate the above solution using Standardized silver nitrate solution.
Indicator:3 to 4 drops of potassium chromate solution. End point: Brick red colour.
Properties: Physical Properties: It is…..
white Crystalline powder ,odorless ,having saline bitter taste
soluble in water and insoluble in HCL
Chemical properties:
When sodium chloride react with silver nitrate to form white precipitate of Silver hloride
AgNO3 + NaCl ---------- AgCl + NaNO3
Silver nitrate Sodium chloride Silver chloride Sodium nitrate
Use:
It is used as fluid and electrolyte replenisher.
It is used in preparation of isotonic solution .It acts as flavor enhancer.
Its isotonic solutions are used in wet dressings, for irrigating body cavities or tissues
Its hypotonic solutions are administered for maintenance therapy when patients are
unable to take fluids and nutrients orally for one to three days.
It is source of both sodium and chloride ions.
It is used as a preservative in many food products.
It is also be used for the production of glass.
13. 2.Potassium chloride
Properties:
Physical properties: It is…..
White granular powder ,Saline in taste
Soluble in air, Freely in water ,Insoluble in alcohol
Chemical properties:
When potassium chloride react with sodium hydroxide to form sodium
chloride and potassium hydroxide.
KCl + NaOH --------- NaCl + KOH
Uses: It is…..
source of both potassium and chloride ions.
Use as electrolyte replenisher.
Used to treat dehydtation
Used for regulation of acid-base balance.
Used for maintain of cardiac function.
Used to regulates osmotic pressure of the cell
14. 3.Calcium Gluconate
Properties:
Physical Properties: It is…..
white crystalline powder or as white granules.
odorless and almost tasteless.
slowly soluble in cold water but is freely soluble in boiling water.
insoluble in alcohol.
stored in well –closed container.
Uses: It is….
used as a Calcium replenisher.
Used in deficiency of calcium disorders such as dental carries, fractures,
rickets, spasmophilia, pregnancy and lactation, hyperthyroidism,
haemorrage.
15. ORAL REHYDRATION SALT (ORS)
The oral administration of the fluid and electrolytes to prevent or treat
dehydration is called as oral rehydration therapy.
There are different formulas given by WHO as well as UNICEF in consideration to
treatment.
O.R.S is a dry mixture containing many vital ingredients having different
concentrations including sodium chloride,glucose,sodium bicarbonate, water,etc
available as dry powders to be dissolved in specified amount of water or in the
form of prepared solutions as “oral electrolyte solutions” or “oral rehydration salts
Near about 90-95% of patients suffer from cholera & acute diarrhea is successfully
treated using ORS.
Sr No Ingredients Formula I Formula II Formula III
1 Sodium chloride 3.5 gm 3.5 gm 3.5 gm
2 Sodium bicarbonate 2.5 gm …….. …….
4 Potassium chloride 1.5 gm 1.5 gm 1.5 gm
5 Glucose or dextrose 20 gm 20 gm 13.5 gm
6 Water 1 liter 1 liter 1 liter
16. PHYSIOLOGICAL ACID BASE BALANCE
Functioning of physiological acid base balance is based on a correct balance
between the concentrations of acids and bases in the blood.
This will be necessary for various biochemical reactions taking places in
body.
Eg.low value of stomach is required for functioning of enzyme pepsin
which is useful for digestion of food.
Physiologically all positively (+ve) charged ions are called as acids, and all
negatively (-ve) charged ions are called as bases.
Physiological changes in the concentration of H+ ions in the blood lead to
acid-base balance.