electrolyte

e·lec·tro·lyte   (ĭ-lěk'trə-līt')    n.   A chemical compound that ionizes when dissolved or molten to produce an electrically conductive medium. Physiology Any of various ions, such as sodium, potassium, or chloride, required by cells to regulate the electric charge and flow of water molecules across the cell membrane.

electrolyte [(i-lek-truh-leyet)]

A substance that can serve as a conductor for an electric current when it is dissolved in a solution. Electrolytes are found in the blood and tissue fluids of the body.

Main Entry: elec·tro·lyte
Pronunciation: i-'lek-tr&-"lIt
Function: noun
1 : a nonmetallic electric conductor in which current iscarried by the movement of ions
2 a : a substance (as an acid, base, or salt) that when dissolved in a suitable solvent (as water) or when fused becomes an ionic conductor b : any of the ions (as of sodium, potassium, calcium, or bicarbonate) that in a biological fluid regulate or affect most metabolic processes (as the flow of nutrients into and wasteproducts out of cells) —used especially in biology and biochemistry

electrolyte e·lec·tro·lyte (ĭ-lěk'trə-līt')
n.

1. A chemical compound that ionizes when dissolved or molten to produce an electrically conductive medium.

2. Any of various ions, such as sodium or chloride, required by cells to regulate the electric charge and flow of water molecules across the cell membrane.