Fluids & Electrolytes

Question 1

what is an electrolyte?

Answer 1

a compound that releases ions when in water

Question 2

what are cations?

Answer 2

positive charged ions

Question 3

what are anions?

Answer 3

a negative charged ion

Question 4

what are strong electrolytes?

Answer 4

a compound that seperates into ions in water and conducts an electric current in water

ex: NaCl + H2O = Na+ + Cl-

Question 5

what are non-electrolytes?

Answer 5

dissoves as molecules in water

doesn’t produce ions in water

no electric current in water

Question 6

what part of the body contain electrolytes?

Answer 6

all body fluids

Question 7

what are functions of electrolytes?

Answer 7

1) co-factor for optimal enzyme activity
2) maintains fluid balance (osmosis)
3) maintains acid-base balance (pH)
4) carries electrical currents

Question 8

what are 3 major fluid compartments that electrolytes are composed?

Answer 8

intracellular fluid

plasma

interstitial fluid

Question 9

what is the composition of electrolytes in extracellular (interstitial fluid/plasma) fluid?

Answer 9

1) na+ = major positive charged ion

both similar in plasma and interstitial fluid

2) Cl- = major negative charged ion

anion concentrations similar in both EXCEPT protein (higher in plasma)

Question 10

what are the intracellular electrolyte composition?

Answer 10

K+ = major positive charge ion (cation)

Mg2+ = important to activate enzymes

phosphate = major negative charged ion (anion)

larger concentrations of protein anions

Question 11

what is a weak electrolyte?

Answer 11

produces few ions

some does not completely seperate

Question 12

what is acid?

Answer 12

a solution with excess H+ (hydrogen) ions

“sharp/sour”

Question 13

what is a base?

Answer 13

a solution that has an excess of OH- (hydroxide) ions

“alkali)

substances that can accept hydrogen ions

Question 14

what is a buffer?

Answer 14

a solution that resists change in pH on the addition of an acid/base

typically a mixture of a weak acid/salts acts as a weak base

Question 15

what is pH?

Answer 15

a measure of how acidic or basic a solution is

p = potential

h = hydrogen

low pH = higher concentration of hydrogen ions

Question 16

what is the range of a pH scale and what is considered acidic, basic, and neutral?

Answer 16

range = 0-14

acidic = < 7

basic = > 7

nautral = 7

Question 17

how big of a jump is each pH level to one another?

Answer 17

10x

ex: pH 3 is 10x more hydrogen as pH 4 due to inverse scale

Question 18

what are sources of acids?

Answer 18

CO2 released from total combustion of carbs

large amounts of acids from normal metabolic processes

nitrogeneous waste

HCl from gastric juices

Question 19

what are sourcs of bases?

Answer 19

bile salts + pancreatic juice

intake of alkaline drugs

Question 20

what are 3 lines on defence to regulate pH?

Answer 20

1) blood buffer
2) respiratory regulation
3) renal regulation

Question 21

what is the blood buffer system?

Answer 21

minimize change in hydrogen ions by converting strong acids + bases into weaker ones chemically

weak acid + its salt

• in any buffer system
• changes to weaker ones
• works in fractions of a second

Question 22

what is respiratory regulation?

Answer 22

carbonic acid is dissolved as CO2 in plasma

hyperventilation lowers co2 + H2CO3 ( carbonic acid) int plasma

decreased/inadequate ventilation raises CO2 + H2CO3 in plasma

Question 23

what is renal control?

Answer 23

kidneys slectively retain/excrete H+ ions

reabsorb bicarbonate form urine

kidneys play a major role in preventing a change in pH

Question 24

what is the function of a buffer?

Answer 24

resist change in pH when strong acid/base is added to the solution

Question 25

what comprises of the carbonic/bicarbonate buffer system?

Answer 25

carbonic acid (H2CO3) = weak acid

sodium bicarbonate (HCO3-) = weak base

Question 26

what happens when a strong acid is added to a buffer system?

Answer 26

sodium bicarbonate converts strong acid to weak acid (carbonic acid) to resist change in pH

Question 27

what happens when a strong base is added to a buffer system?

Answer 27

carbonic acid converts strong base to weak base (sodium bicarbonate) to resist change in pH

Question 28

how do protein buffer systems work?

Answer 28

3 amino acids can act as buffers

free amino group ends with 2 hydrogen, but can act as a base (absorbs an extra H+) if pH falls

free carboxyl group (COOH) group ends at right end of amino acid and can act as a donor of hydrogen if pH rises

Question 29

what is acidosis?

Answer 29

blodd pH under 7.35

very acidic

Question 30

what are 2 causes of acidosis?

Answer 30

abnormally high Pco2 in systematic aterial blood

inadequate exhalaion of CO2

Question 31

what is metabolic acidosis?

Answer 31

abnormally low HCO3- in stsematic arterial blood

Question 32

what is alkalosis?

Answer 32

blood pH above 7.45

very basic

Question 33

what are 2 causes of alkalosis?

Answer 33

abnormally low Pco2 in systematic arterial blood

hyperventilation due to high altitudes

Question 34

what is metabolic alkalosis?

Answer 34

abnormally high HCO3- in stematic arterial blood

Question 35

what does hyperventilation and hypoventilation cause?

Answer 35

respiratory acidosis (hyperventilation)

respiratory alkalosis (hypoventilation)