electrolyte

[ ih-lek-truh-lahyt ]

noun

1. Physical Chemistry.
   1. Also called e·lec·tro·lyt·ic con·duc·tor [ih-lek-tr, uh, -, lit, -ik k, uh, n-, duhk, -ter]. a conducting medium in which the flow of current is accompanied by the movement of matter in the form of ions.
   2. any substance that dissociates into ions when dissolved in a suitable medium or melted and thus forms a conductor of electricity.
2. 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

/ ɪˈlɛktrəʊˌlaɪt /

noun

1. a solution or molten substance that conducts electricity
2. 1. a chemical compound that dissociates in solution into ions
   2. any of the ions themselves

electrolyte

/ ĭ-lĕk′trə-līt′ /

1. 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.
2. See also electrodialysis
3. Any of these ions found in body fluids. Electrolytes are needed by cells to regulate the flow of water molecules across cell membranes.

electrolyte

1. A substance that can serve as a conductor for an electric current (see also current ) when it is dissolved in a solution . Electrolytes are found in the blood and tissue fluids of the body.

Other Words From

• non·e·lec·tro·lyte noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of electrolyte¹

First recorded in 1825–35; electro- + -lyte ¹

Example Sentences

Oxygen from the air enters the cathode, where the gas reacts with water from the electrolyte to form hydroxide.

From Science News

The combination of electrolytes, minerals, a single gram of sugar, and caffeine helps give me the boost I need to recover and finish out the day’s work.

From Outside Online

Its technology is a partially solid-state battery, meaning that it uses a solid electrolyte instead of the liquid that most batteries rely on to promote the movement of charged atoms through the device.

From MIT Technology Review

These newer batteries are lightweight and safer as they have a lower chance of leaking electrolytes.

From Popular-Science

So researchers around the world have been experimenting with batteries that use a solid electrolyte instead, with a particular eye on using them in electric vehicles.

From Ars Technica

Hot chemicals—vaporized electrolyte—had left a trail of toxic residue in the electronics bay.

From The Daily Beast

It was “vaporized electrolyte which looks like smoke but is not the result of combustion.”

From The Daily Beast

These ions bearing electric charges are believed to be the carriers of the electric current through the electrolyte.

From Project Gutenberg

In these cells, the same plates and electrolyte are used without change for extended periods, sometimes for a number of years.

From Project Gutenberg

The plates or other objects by which the current enters or leaves the electrolyte are called the electrodes.

From Project Gutenberg

(b) The electrical energy used in charging the plates costs less than the plates and electrolyte of voltaic cells.

From Project Gutenberg

(c) Charging storage cells takes much less labor than replacing the electrolyte and plates of voltaic cells.

From Project Gutenberg

More About Electrolyte

What is an electrolyte?

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.

Why is electrolyte important?

The first records of the word electrolyte come from around 1825. It combines electro–, meaning “electricity,” and –lyte, a combining form that denotes something is subjected to a certain process. Electrolytes are subjected to the process of electrolysis, which is a movement of an electric current.

Let’s look at some specific examples of how electrolytes keep your body going.

In addition to helping your brain communicate with other parts of your body, electrolytes like sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and chloride help with other bodily functions. Electrolytes help muscles like those in your heart contract, help cells from shriveling up by making sure they retain water through osmosis, and they ensure your blood keeps a healthy pH level, a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution (in this case, your blood).

Did you know … ?

Electrolytes are often lost through sweat. Energy drinks like Gatorade are high in electrolytes because they are designed to offset this loss in athletes who sweat heavily.

What are real-life examples of electrolytes?

Most people are familiar with electrolytes from learning about their bodily functions in science class (or from sports drink commercials).

#Dellavedova. He needed an IV for dehydration. Muscle Cramps is the concern.We need electrolytes to allow muscles to GLIDE like skis on Snow

— Dr. Robert Klapper (@DrRobertKlapper) June 11, 2015

Jesse. Your body is running low on electrolytes. Sodium, potassium. When they're gone, your brain ceases to communicate with your muscles.

— Walter White (@walterwhite_) November 15, 2015

 

What other words are related to electrolyte?

• ion
• ionization
• electricity
• electrolysis
• electric current

Quiz yourself!

True or False?

Electrolytes do not conduct electricity and prevent the movement of an electric current.