electrolyte

[ih-lek-truh-lahyt]

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.

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

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.

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 Word Forms

• nonelectrolyte noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of electrolyte¹

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

Example Sentences

They helped Montgomery settle on a rock in the sun to warm up, gave him food and electrolytes the Scouts had donated from their supplies and used their Garmin satellite system to summon help.

From Los Angeles Times

The process involves distributing the ore within an electrolyte and then using electricity to heat this mixture to 1,600C.

From BBC

"We mix a little table salt into a glass of water and drink it, just to get some electrolytes."

From BBC

Before our arrival we were given careful instructions to pack light clothing, heavy sunscreen and lots of electrolytes lest we risk heat stroke or dehydration.

From Salon

Grab some tissues and rehydrating electrolytes to prepare for this gorgeous drama to wreck you in the best way.

From Salon

When To Use

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.