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electrolyte
[ih-lek-truh-lahyt]
noun
Physical Chemistry.
Also called electrolytic conductor.a conducting medium in which the flow of current is accompanied by the movement of matter in the form of ions.
any substance that dissociates into ions when dissolved in a suitable medium or melted and thus forms a conductor of electricity.
Physiology.any of certain inorganic compounds, mainly sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, chloride, and bicarbonate, that dissociate in biological fluids into ions capable of conducting electrical currents and constituting a major force in controlling fluid balance within the body.
electrolyte
/ ɪˈɛٰəʊˌɪ /
noun
a solution or molten substance that conducts electricity
a chemical compound that dissociates in solution into ions
any of the ions themselves
electrolyte
A melted or dissolved compound that has broken apart into ions (anions and cations). Applying an electric field across an electrolyte causes the anions and cations to move in opposite directions, thereby conducting electrical current while gradually separating the ions.
See also electrodialysis electrolysis
Any of these ions found in body fluids. Electrolytes are needed by cells to regulate the flow of water molecules across cell membranes.
Other 51Թ Forms
- nonelectrolyte noun
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of electrolyte1
Example Sentences
Grab some tissues and rehydrating electrolytes to prepare for this gorgeous drama to wreck you in the best way.
If damaged or crushed, they can release flammable electrolytes, leading to intense fires at waste sites.
Finley receives carbohydrates and proteins - along with vitamins, minerals and electrolytes - three times a day into his stomach via a different tube.
The strikers said they are consuming only water with zero-calorie electrolyte powder.
"At the cellular level, there is differential expression of these transporters of salt and other electrolytes in female kidneys versus male kidneys," Ahmed told Salon.
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When To Use
An electrolyte is a substance that conducts electricity when melted or dissolved in water. The individual ions that such a substance breaks into are also called electrolytes.Sodium chloride, that is, table salt, is one example of an electrolyte. Sodium chloride is made of sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl). If you dump a bunch of salt on a table, it won’t conduct electricity. The salt molecules are tightly held together and don’t have electrical charges to help move (conduct) the electric current.However, if you put salt into water, it will dissolve and the sodium and chlorine molecules will be free to drift apart from each other. The sodium and chlorine in salt are ions, which means they have electrical charges (sodium has a positive charge and chlorine has a negative charge). Because they are now freely moving ions, they can conduct electricity through the water.Electrolytes are important to your body because your brain sends electrical signals through your nerve cells to tell the cells in your body what to do. These signals need a conductor to transport them through and across cells. The electrolyte sodium acts as this conductor, carrying these signals through nerve cells.Maintaining a good supply of electrolytes is important to keep your brain communicating with your other organs and muscles.
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