Solutions, Body Fluids, and Electrolytes
After reading this chapter you will be able to:
Describe the characteristics of and key terms associated with solutions, colloids, and suspensions.
Describe the five factors that influence the solubility of a substance in a solution.
Describe how osmotic pressure functions and what its action is in relation to cell membranes.
Describe how to calculate the solute content of a solution using ratio, weight/volume, and percent methods.
State the ionic characteristics of acids, bases, and salts.
Describe how proteins can function as bases.
Describe how to calculate the pH of a solution when given the [H+] in nanomoles per liter.
Identify where fluid compartments are located in the body and what their volumes are.
Describe how water loss and replacement occur.
Define the roles played by osmotic and hydrostatic pressure in edema.
Identify clinical findings associated with excess or deficiency of the seven basic electrolytes.
Solutions, Colloids, and Suspensions
Definition of a Solution
Colloids (sometimes called dispersions or gels) consist of large molecules that attract and hold water (hydrophilic: “water loving”). These molecules are uniformly distributed throughout the dispersion, and they tend not to settle. The protoplasm inside cells is a common example of a colloid. Physiologically, colloids provide very little free water to the patient’s system, and care should be taken not to create a hypotonic environment.1
1. Nature of the solute. The ease with which substances go into a solution (dissociation) in a given solvent depends on the forces of the solute-solute molecules and varies widely.
2. Nature of the solvent. The ability of a solvent to dissolve a solute depends on the bonds of the solvent-solvent molecules and varies widely.
3. Temperature. Solubility of most solids increases with increased temperature. However, the solubility of gases varies inversely with temperature.
4. Pressure. The solubility of solids and liquids is not greatly affected by pressure. However, the solubility of gases in liquids varies directly with pressure.
5. Concentration. The concentration of a solute or available solvent affects how much of the substance goes into solution.
The effects of temperature and pressure on the solubility of gases are important. More gas dissolves in a liquid at lower temperatures. As the temperature of a liquid increases, gas dissolved in that liquid comes out of solution. Henry’s law describes the effect of pressure on solubility of a gas in a liquid. At a given temperature, the volume of a gas that dissolves in a liquid is proportional to the solubility coefficient of the gas and the partial pressure of gas to which the liquid is exposed. Oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) transport can change significantly with changes in body temperature or atmospheric pressure (see Chapter 6).
Concentration of Solutions
The term concentration refers to the amount of solute dissolved into the solvent. Concentration can be described either qualitatively or quantitatively. Calling something a dilute solution is an example of a qualitative description. Stating that a specific container holds 50 ml of 0.4 molar solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is a quantitative description (Figure 12-1, A). Saturated solutions occur when the solvent has dissociated the maximal amount of solute into itself. Additional solute added to a saturated solution does not dissociate into solution but remains at the bottom of the container (see Figure 12-1, B). Solute particles precipitate into the solid state at the same rate at which other particles go into solution. This equilibrium characterizes a saturated solution.
A solution is characterized as being supersaturated when the solvent contains more solute than a saturated solution at the same temperature and pressure. If a saturated solution is heated, the solute equilibrium is upset, and more solute goes into solution. If undissolved solute is removed and the solution is cooled gently, there is an excess of dissolved solute (see Figure 12-1, C). The excess solute of supersaturated solutions may be precipitated out if the solution is disturbed or if a “seed crystal” is introduced.
Starling Forces
Starling was a nineteenth-century British physiologist who studied fluid transport across membranes. His hypothesis states that the fluid movement secondary to filtration across the wall of a capillary depends on both the hydrostatic and the oncotic pressure gradients across the capillary.2 The driving force for fluid filtration across the wall of the capillary is determined by four separate pressures: hydraulic (hydrostatic) and colloid osmotic pressure both within the vessel and in the tissue space.3 This process can be described mathematically using the following equation:
Osmotic Pressure of Solutions
Osmotic pressure (oncotic pressure)4 is the force produced by solvent particles under certain conditions. A membrane that permits passage of solvent molecules but not solute is called a semipermeable membrane. If such a membrane divides a solution into two compartments, molecules of solvent can pass through it from one side to the other (Figure 12-2, A). The number of solvent molecules passing (or diffusing) in one direction must equal the number of solute molecules passing in the opposite direction. An equal ratio of solute to solvent particles (i.e., the concentration of the solution) is maintained on both sides of the membrane. A capillary wall is an example of a semipermeable membrane.5,6
If a solution is placed on one side of a semipermeable membrane and pure solvent is placed on the other, solvent molecules move through the membrane into the solution. The force driving solvent molecules through the membrane is called osmotic pressure. Osmotic pressure tries to redistribute solvent molecules so that the same concentration exists on both sides of the membrane. Osmotic pressure may be measured by connecting a manometer to the expanding column of the solution (see Figure 12-2, B and C).
Osmotic pressure can also be visualized as an attractive force of solute particles in a concentrated solution. If 100 ml of a 50% solution is placed on one side of a membrane and 100 ml of a 30% solution is placed on the other side, solvent molecules move from the dilute to the concentrated side (see Figure 12-2, D and E). The particles in the concentrated solution attract solvent molecules from the dilute solution until equilibrium occurs. Equilibrium exists when the concentrations (i.e., ratio of solute to solvent) in the two compartments are equal (40% in Figure 12-2).
Osmolality is defined as the ratio of solute to solvent. In physiology, the solvent is water.1,5,7 Osmotic pressure depends on the number of particles in solution but not on their charge or identity. A 2% solution has twice the osmotic pressure of a 1% solution under similar pressures. For a given amount of solute, osmotic pressure is inversely proportional to the volume of solvent. Most cell walls are semipermeable membranes. Through osmotic pressure, water is distributed throughout the body within certain physiologic ranges. Tonicity describes how much osmotic pressure is exerted by a solution. Average body cellular fluid has a tonicity equal to a 0.9% solution of sodium chloride (NaCl; sometimes referred to as physiologic saline). Solutions with similar tonicity are called isotonic. Solutions with more tonicity are hypertonic, and solutions with less tonicity are hypotonic. Most cells reside in a hypotonic environment in which the concentration of water (solute) is lower inside the cell than in the surroundings. Water flows into the cell causing it to expand until the cell membrane restricts further expansion. Pressure increases inside the cell to counteract osmotic pressure. This pressure is called turgor, and it is what prevents more water from entering the cell. The equilibrium that develops allows the cell to maintain a gradient across the cell membrane. Some cells have selective permeability, allowing passage not only of water but also of specific solutes. Through these mechanisms, nutrients and physiologic solutions are distributed throughout the body.
In electrochemical terms, there are three basic types of physiologic solutions. Depending on the solute, solutions are ionic (electrovalent), polar covalent, or nonpolar covalent (Table 12-1). In ionic and polar covalent solutions, some of the solute ionizes into separate particles known as ions. A solution in which this dissociation occurs is called an electrolyte solution (Figure 12-3). If an electrode is placed in such a solution, positive ions migrate to the negative pole of the electrode. These ions are called cations. Negative ions migrate to the positive pole of the electrode; they are called anions. In nonpolar covalent solutions, molecules of solute remain intact and do not carry electrical charges; these solutions are referred to as nonelectrolytes. These nonelectrolytes are not attracted to either the positive or the negative pole of an electrode (hence the designation nonpolar). All three types of solutions coexist in the body. These solutions also serve as the media in which colloids and simple suspensions are dispersed. Gases such as O2 and CO2 are nonpolar molecules (along with N2) and do not dissolve very well in water, which is a polar solvent.
TABLE 12-1
Types of Physiologic Solutions
Type | Characteristics | Physiologic Example |
Ionic (electrovalent) | Ionic compounds dissolved from crystalline form, usually in water (hydration); form strong electrolytes with conductivity dependent on concentration of ions | Saline solution (0.9% NaCl) |
Polar covalent | Molecular compounds dissolved in water or other solvents to produce ions (ionization); electrolytes may be weak or strong, depending on degree of ionization; solutions polarize and are good conductors | Hydrochloric acid (HCl) (strong electrolyte); acetic acid (CH3COOH) (weak electrolyte) |
Nonpolar covalent | Molecular compounds dissolved into electrically neutral solutions (do not polarize); solutions are not good conductors; nonelectrolytes | Glucose (C6H12O6) |
Solute Content by Weight
To convert a serum Na+ value of 322 mg/dl to mEq/L, the equation is used as follows:
In clinical practice, electrolyte replacement is common when a laboratory test identifies a significant deficiency. The electrolyte content of intravenous solutions is usually stated in milligrams per deciliter or in mEq per liter. Lactated Ringer’s solution is one such infusion used for electrolyte replacement (Table 12-2).
TABLE 12-2
Concentration of Ingredients in Lactated Ringer’s Solution
Substance | mg/dl | Approximate mEq/L |
NaCl (sodium chloride) | 600 Na | 130 |
310 Cl | 109 | |
NaC3H5O3 (sodium lactate) | 30 C3H5O3 | 28 |
KCl (potassium chloride) | 30 K | 4 |
CaCl2 (calcium chloride) | 20 Ca | 27 |
Quantitative Classification of Solutions
The amount of solute in a solution may be quantified by the following six methods:
1. Ratio solution. The amount of solute to solvent is expressed as a proportion (e.g., 1 : 100). Ratio solutions are sometimes used in describing concentrations of drugs.
2. Weight-per-volume solution (W/V). The W/V solution is commonly used for solids dissolved in liquids. It is defined as weight of solute per volume of solution. This method is sometimes erroneously described as a percent solution. W/V solutions are commonly expressed in grams of solute per 100 ml of solution. For example, 5 g of glucose dissolved in 100 ml of solution is properly called a 5% solution, according to the W/V scheme. A liquid dissolved in a liquid is measured as volumes of solute to volumes of solution.
3. Percent solution. A percent solution is weight of solute per weight of solution. For example, 5 g of glucose dissolved in 95 g of water is a true percent solution. The glucose is 5% of the total solution weight of 100 g.
4. Molal solution. A molal solution contains 1 mole of solute per kilogram of solvent, or 1 mmol/g solvent. The concentration of a molal solution is independent of temperature.
5. Molar solution. A molar solution has 1 mole of solute per liter of solution, or 1 mmol/ml of solution. Solute is measured into a container, and solvent is added to produce the solution volume desired.
6. Normal solution. A normal solution