ELECTROLYTE Meaning and
Definition
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Electrolyte refers to a substance that conducts electricity when it is dissolved or melted. It is typically an ionic compound that dissociates into positively and negatively charged ions when it comes into contact with a solvent, such as water. The flow of these charged particles enables the substance to carry an electric current.
Electrolytes are crucial for many bodily functions as they help regulate various processes within the body. In the context of human biology, electrolytes are abundant in bodily fluids, including blood and urine. They play a vital role in maintaining proper cellular function and fluid balance. The major electrolytes in the human body include sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, and phosphate.
These electrolytes perform essential functions such as maintaining the electrical stability of cells, facilitating nerve impulses and muscle contractions, balancing fluid levels inside and outside cells, regulating pH levels, and supporting hydration by controlling the movement of water across cell membranes.
Electrolytes can be obtained through the consumption of certain foods and fluids. Common sources of electrolytes include fruits, vegetables, sports drinks, and electrolyte-infused water. It is important to maintain a proper electrolyte balance to ensure optimal physiological function. Imbalances can lead to conditions like dehydration, muscle cramps, irregular heartbeat, weakness, and fatigue. In cases of severe imbalances, medical intervention may be necessary to restore electrolyte levels.
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Any compound which, in solution, conducts a current of electricity and is decomposed by it.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
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A substance capable of being analysed or decomposed by electricity.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Top Common Misspellings for ELECTROLYTE *
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Other Common Misspellings for ELECTROLYTE
Etymology of ELECTROLYTE
The word "electrolyte" comes from the Greek words "elektron", meaning amber (a substance that exhibits static electric charge when rubbed with a cloth), and "lysis", meaning loosening or dissolution. The term was first used by the Swedish chemist Svante Arrhenius in 1884 to describe substances that conduct electricity when dissolved or melted. Arrhenius observed that these substances dissociated or "loosened" into charged particles (now known as ions) when in a solution, allowing for the conduction of electric current. Hence, the term "electrolyte" was coined to represent these electrically conducting substances.
Similar spelling words for ELECTROLYTE
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