What Are the Chemical Elements of Electrolytes?
Acids, bases and salts are electrolytes. The chemical elements of electrolytes are sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, phosphate and magnesium. To function normally, the body must be able to maintain the levels of electrolytes within very narrow limits. These limits are controlled by hormones. To get a mental picture of this action, imagine a square dance with a Caller that cues the movement of the square dancers. The body maintains the levels of electrolytes in each compartment(cells, tissues, organs) by moving electrolytes (the square dancers) into, or out of, cells based upon the signals provided by the hormones (the square dance Caller). What Are Electrolytes Needed For? The body uses electrolytes in these three general functions: 1.To help regulate nerve and muscle function. 2.To help maintain acid-base balance necessary for normal cell functions. 3.To maintain normal fluid levels in compartments(cells,tissues,organs) and to move fluids around from cell to cell, tissue to tissue
