Blood plasma levels of electrolytes are often reported in...

Blood plasma levels of electrolytes are often reported in milliequivalents (meq) or in millimoles (mmol). Below are given the results of a blood test. Convert these results from meq to mmol . a. Sodium $\left(\mathrm{Na}^{+}\right) 142 \mathrm{meq} / \mathrm{L}$ b. Phosphate $\left(\mathrm{PO}_4{ }^{3-}\right) 2 \mathrm{meq} / \mathrm{L}$ c. Sulfate $\left(\mathrm{SO}_4{ }^{2-}\right) 1 \mathrm{meq} / \mathrm{L}$

Blood plasma levels of electrolytes are often reported in milliequivalents (meq) or in millimoles (mmol). Below are given the results of a blood test. Convert these results from meq to mmol .
a. Sodium $\left(\mathrm{Na}^{+}\right) 142 \mathrm{meq} / \mathrm{L}$
b. Phosphate $\left(\mathrm{PO}_4{ }^{3-}\right) 2 \mathrm{meq} / \mathrm{L}$
c. Sulfate $\left(\mathrm{SO}_4{ }^{2-}\right) 1 \mathrm{meq} / \mathrm{L}$

Key Concepts

Milliequivalents (meq) and Millimoles (mmol)

Milliequivalents (meq) and millimoles (mmol) are units used to express the concentration of ions in a solution. While millimoles measure the amount of a substance in terms of the number of moles of ions, milliequivalents account for the ionic charge, providing a measurement of the chemical activity or reactive capacity of the ions. This distinction is particularly important for calculating the physiological effects of electrolytes in biological fluids.

Valence (Ionic Charge) and Its Role in Conversion

The valence, or the charge of an ion, is critical when converting between milliequivalents and millimoles because it determines how many moles of charge are present per mole of ion. The conversion is based on the principle that one millimole of an ion with a charge of z carries z equivalents (or 1000*z milliequivalents). Thus, to convert meq to mmol, the number of milliequivalents is divided by the absolute value of the ion's charge.

Conversion Formula in Electrolyte Analysis

The conversion from milliequivalents to millimoles is achieved using the formula: mmol = meq / |charge|. This formula standardizes measurements across ions with different valences, ensuring accurate comparisons and calculations in clinical and laboratory settings. The concept is essential for interpreting laboratory results where electrolyte concentrations are reported based on their chemical reactivity rather than solely their quantity.

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