electrolyte

American  

[ih-lek-truh-lahyt] / ɪˈlɛk trəˌlaɪt /

noun

1. Physical Chemistry.

   1. 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.

   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.

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electrolyte British  

/ 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

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electrolyte Scientific  

/ 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 electrolysis

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

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electrolyte Cultural  

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.

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Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

• nonelectrolyte noun

Etymology

Origin of electrolyte

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

Example Sentences

They carefully accounted for the challenges of transplanting two organs at once, including differences in blood volume needs and electrolyte management during the operation.

From Science Daily

“It could be electrolyte disorder, change in protein levels, change in markers of kidney or liver function.”

From Los Angeles Times

Lab tests showed abnormalities in the patients’ blood, like electrolyte disorders or subtle changes in markers of kidney or liver function, Cheng said, though the proportion of such visits overall was small.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Our Woodstock Organic Banana Water stands out for its great taste and natural hydration,” Bruemmer says, “delivering 765mg of electrolytes — similar to many sports drinks — without any artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.”

From Los Angeles Times

Solid-state batteries use solid electrolytes, which are less flammable than the liquid or gel electrolytes used in lithium-ion batteries.

From The Wall Street Journal