MEQL, also written as "meq/L," is an abbreviation commonly used in the field of chemistry and medicine. It stands for milliequivalents per liter, which is a measurement unit used to quantify the concentration of charged particles, such as ions, in a solution. The term meq/L indicates the number of milliequivalents of dissolved species present in one liter of solution.
A milliequivalent is a unit of measure that represents the chemical activity, or charge, of ions in a substance. It is defined as one thousandth of an equivalent, which is the amount of substance that can combine or react with one mole of hydrogen ions (H+) or donate or accept one mole of electrons. In simpler terms, a milliequivalent provides a way to measure the concentration of ions in a specific volume of solution.
The meq/L measurement is frequently used in clinical analysis and medical diagnostics, particularly to determine concentrations of electrolytes, such as sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), and chloride (Cl-), in blood, urine, or other biological fluids. It allows healthcare professionals to assess electrolyte imbalances and monitor patients' health conditions by comparing the measured values to normal reference ranges.
In summary, MEQL is an abbreviation for milliequivalents per liter, a unit of measurement used to quantify the concentration of charged particles or ions in a solution.
