Chemical compounds (minerals) that break down into ions when placed in water are called?

DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-2)

Biochemistry & Nutrition

Easy

Appeared in: DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-2)

Explanation

Electrolytes are defined as substances or minerals that are capable of breaking apart (dissociating) into electrically charged particles called ions when placed in water.
Common examples in the human body include sodium (Na⁺), potassium (K⁺), calcium (Ca²⁺), and chloride (Cl⁻).
These ions play a critical role in essential physiological processes such as maintaining fluid balance, conducting nerve impulses, enabling muscle contraction, and regulating the body's acid-base balance.

Option A: Water is the universal solvent in which electrolytes dissolve. It facilitates the ionization process but is not the compound that breaks apart into mineral ions.
Option B: Extracellular fluid (ECF) is a body fluid compartment located outside the cells. It is a solution that contains a high concentration of electrolytes like sodium and chloride, but it is not the chemical compound itself.
Option D: Intracellular fluid (ICF) is the fluid found within the body's cells. It is a solution rich in electrolytes like potassium and phosphate, but it is a location, not the chemical substance that ionizes.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Definition and function of electrolytes as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses are responsible for monitoring patients' electrolyte levels, as imbalances can lead to serious complications such as cardiac arrhythmias, muscle weakness, confusion, or seizures.
Conditions like dehydration, kidney disease, heart failure, and the use of diuretic medications place patients at high risk for electrolyte disturbances.
What if? If a patient presents with severe vomiting, they are losing hydrochloric acid, leading to a loss of hydrogen and chloride ions. The nurse should anticipate monitoring for metabolic alkalosis, hypochloremia, and hypokalemia, and be prepared to administer IV fluids with electrolyte replacements as ordered.

How to Approach the Question

First, analyze the question to identify the core concept being tested. The keywords are 'chemical compounds (minerals)', 'break down into ions', and 'in water'.
This is a Factual Recall question that requires you to know a specific definition.
Evaluate each option based on the definition. Ask yourself if the option is a compound that ionizes in water.
Eliminate 'Water' because it is the solvent, not the solute.
Eliminate 'Extracellular fluids' and 'Intracellular fluids' as they are locations or compartments within the body that contain these compounds, not the compounds themselves.
Select 'Electrolytes' as it is the precise term for minerals that form ions when dissolved in water.

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