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

Blood plasma levels of electrolytes are often reported in milliequivalents (meq) or in millimoles ( mmol ). Given below are the results of a blood test. Convert these results from meq to mmol. a. Magnesium $\left(\mathrm{Mg}^{2+}\right), 3 \mathrm{meq} / \mathrm{L}$ b. Bicarbonate $\left(\mathrm{HCO}_3{ }^{-}\right), 27 \mathrm{meq} / \mathrm{L}$ c. Chloride $\left(\mathrm{Cl}^{-}\right), 103 \mathrm{meq} / \mathrm{L}$

Blood plasma levels of electrolytes are often reported in milliequivalents (meq) or in millimoles ( mmol ). Given below are the results of a blood test. Convert these results from meq to mmol.
a. Magnesium $\left(\mathrm{Mg}^{2+}\right), 3 \mathrm{meq} / \mathrm{L}$
b. Bicarbonate $\left(\mathrm{HCO}_3{ }^{-}\right), 27 \mathrm{meq} / \mathrm{L}$
c. Chloride $\left(\mathrm{Cl}^{-}\right), 103 \mathrm{meq} / \mathrm{L}$

Labs

Want to see this concept in action?

NEW

Explore this concept interactively to see how it behaves as you change inputs.

View Labs

Key Concepts

Electrolytes

Electrolytes are ions in the blood that carry an electrical charge, playing critical roles in maintaining fluid balance, nerve impulses, and muscle contractions. They are measured in terms of concentration in the blood and include ions like magnesium, bicarbonate, and chloride.

Milliequivalents (meq)

Milliequivalents are units that represent the chemical combining capacity of ions in a solution, taking into account both the number of ions and their valence (charge). This measurement reflects the reactive potential of the electrolyte in processes such as metabolism and nerve transmission.

Millimoles (mmol)

Millimoles refer to a unit of substance that denotes one-thousandth of a mole, representing the number of particles (ions or molecules) in a given volume. It provides a count of the actual number of electrolyte particles, independent of their charge.

Conversion from meq to mmol

Converting from milliequivalents to millimoles involves dividing the value in milliequivalents by the charge (valency) of the ion. This conversion is crucial for interpreting electrolyte concentrations accurately, as it accounts for differences in ion charge while providing a measure of the actual number of ions present.

Transcript

Please give Ace some feedback