Made up of potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, chloride, phosphate, bicarbonate and sulfate.
See also: Water-electrolyte imbalance. In physiology, the primary ions of electrolytes are sodium (Na +), potassium (K +), calcium (Ca 2+), magnesium (Mg 2+), chloride (Cl −), hydrogen phosphate (HPO 4 2−), and hydrogen carbonate (HCO 3 −). If a high proportion of the solute dissociates to form free ions, the electrolyte is strong; if most of the solute does not dissociate, the electrolyte is weak. The properties of electrolytes may be exploited using electrolysis to extract constituent elements and compounds contained within the solution For example, your body fluids -- blood, plasma, interstitial fluid (fluid between cells) -- are like seawater and have a high concentration of sodium chloride (table salt, or NaCl). The electrolytes in sodium chloride are: 1  sodium ion (Na +) - cation. 2  chloride ion (Cl -) - anion. These electrolytes must be replaced to keep the electrolyte concentrations of your body fluids constant. So, many sports drinks have sodium chloride or potassium chloride added to them. They also have sugar and flavorings to provide your body with extra energy and to make the drink taste better. Placing a salt into a solvent (such as water) also results in an electrolyte solution, as the components in the salt dissociate in a process called solvation. When sodium chloride or table salt is added to water, for example, the salt dissolves and breaks down into its component ions sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-). Similarly, when the gas carbon dioxide is dissolved in water, it produces the carbonate ions, hydrogen carbonate ions and hydronium ions. Melted salts can also be electrolytes. For example, molten sodium chloride becomes a liquid that can conduct electricity. The electrolyte in a solution is termed concentrated if it has a high number of ions and dilute if it has a low number. Therefore, if a large amount of the solute dissociates to give free ions, the electrolyte is strong whereas if a small proportion of the solute dissociates, the electrolyte is weak. The concentration of electrolytes in the body is controlled by a variety of hormones, most of which are manufactured in the kidney and the adrenal glands. Sensors in specialized kidney cells monitor the amount of sodium, potassium, and water in the bloodstream. Electrolytes are the smallest of chemicals that are important for the cells in the body to function and allow the body to work. The major electrolytes in the body are made up of potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, chloride, phosphate, bicarbonate and sulfate. The kidneys are essential to maintaining electrolyte production, however when you sweat you lose a large portion of your electrolytes–primarily potassium and sodium. Electrolytes are salt, primarily in the form of ions, which are molecules or atoms that have lost or gained an electron. We need electrolytes to function at every physical level, especially muscular and nerve performance. The term electrolyte means that this ion is electrically-charged and moves to either a negative (cathode) or positive (anode) electrode 1  : ions that move to the cathode (cations) are positively charged. 2  ions that move to the anode (anions) are negatively charged. These electrolytes must be replaced to keep the electrolyte concentrations of your body fluids constant. So, many sports drinks have sodium chloride or potassium chloride added to them. They also have sugar and flavorings to provide your body with extra energy and to make the drink taste better. Electrolytes Overview. Electrolytes are the smallest of chemicals that are important for the cells in the body to function and allow the body to work. Electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and others are critical in allowing cells to generate energy, maintain the stability of their walls, and to function in general. They generate electricity, contract muscles, move water and fluids within the body, and participate in myriad other activities
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what are electrolytes made of