Electrolytes are essential minerals that are vital for numerous physiological functions, including nerve impulse transmission, muscle contraction, and maintaining acid-base balance. For B.Pharm students, understanding the roles of major ions like sodium, potassium, and calcium is crucial. This knowledge is fundamental to grasping the principles of replacement therapy, such as Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS), and comprehending various disease states and their pharmaceutical management.
- Which of the following is the most abundant cation in the extracellular fluid (ECF)?
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Sodium
- Calcium
- The most abundant cation in the intracellular fluid (ICF) is:
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Calcium
- Chloride
- Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS) is primarily used to treat:
- Malnutrition
- Dehydration caused by diarrhea
- Hypocalcemia
- Systemic acidosis
- Which electrolyte is crucial for muscle contraction, blood clotting, and neurotransmitter release?
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Chloride
- Calcium
- Sodium Chloride Injection (0.9% w/v) is used in replacement therapy because it is:
- Hypertonic
- Isotonic with blood plasma
- Hypotonic
- A nutrient solution
- The primary function of bicarbonate ions (HCO₃⁻) in the body is to:
- Aid in muscle contraction
- Act as a major component of the blood buffer system
- Transport oxygen
- Regulate body temperature
- Potassium Chloride is administered in replacement therapy to treat:
- Hyperkalemia
- Hypokalemia
- Hyponatremia
- Hypernatremia
- The fluid found within the body’s cells is known as:
- Extracellular fluid (ECF)
- Intracellular fluid (ICF)
- Plasma
- Interstitial fluid
- What is the role of glucose in the Oral Rehydration Salt (ORS) formulation?
- To provide energy
- To enhance the absorption of sodium and water
- To act as a sweetening agent
- To act as a preservative
- Calcium Gluconate is the preferred salt for intravenous calcium therapy because it is:
- More potent than calcium chloride
- Less irritating to the veins than calcium chloride
- More soluble than calcium chloride
- Faster acting than calcium chloride
- An electrolyte is a substance that produces an electrically conducting solution when dissolved in:
- Oil
- Alcohol
- A polar solvent, such as water
- A non-polar solvent
- The regulation of fluid balance between the intracellular and extracellular compartments is largely controlled by the concentration of:
- Potassium
- Sodium
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Which of the following is a major physiological function of potassium?
- Maintaining the resting membrane potential of nerve and muscle cells
- Regulating body temperature
- Acting as the primary extracellular buffer
- Forming the structure of bones and teeth
- The composition of ORS as recommended by the WHO includes sodium chloride, glucose, potassium chloride, and:
- Calcium carbonate
- Magnesium sulphate
- Trisodium citrate, dihydrate
- Ascorbic acid
- A condition of abnormally low potassium levels in the blood is:
- Hyponatremia
- Hypernatremia
- Hypokalemia
- Hyperkalemia
- The major anion in the extracellular fluid is:
- Bicarbonate
- Phosphate
- Sulphate
- Chloride
- Which of the following are considered major physiological ions?
- Sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride
- Iron, copper, and zinc
- Gold, silver, and platinum
- Fluoride, iodide, and bromide
- The maintenance of the body’s acid-base balance is a key function of:
- Sodium and potassium
- Calcium and magnesium
- The bicarbonate buffer system
- Chloride ions
- A positively charged ion is called a(n):
- Anion
- Cation
- Molecule
- Atom
- Which electrolyte is essential for the structure of bones and teeth?
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Chloride
- Calcium
- The fluid that surrounds the cells in tissues is called:
- Plasma
- Intracellular fluid
- Interstitial fluid
- Lymph
- What is the primary danger associated with severe hyperkalemia?
- Dehydration
- Cardiac arrhythmias or cardiac arrest
- Muscle weakness
- Respiratory depression
- The main purpose of replacement therapy is to:
- Provide nutrition
- Treat infections
- Restore the normal levels of body fluids and electrolytes
- Deliver drugs to a specific site
- A negatively charged ion is called a(n):
- Cation
- Anion
- Positron
- Molecule
- Which two electrolytes are most closely regulated together by the kidneys?
- Sodium and calcium
- Sodium and potassium
- Calcium and magnesium
- Potassium and phosphate
- Hypocalcemia refers to a lower-than-normal level of:
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Calcium
- Chloride
- The normal physiological pH of the blood is tightly regulated between:
- 7.00 – 7.20
- 7.25 – 7.35
- 7.35 – 7.45
- 7.50 – 7.60
- Hyponatremia is a condition of low:
- Potassium in the blood
- Sodium in the blood
- Calcium in the blood
- Chloride in the blood
- Which of the following is NOT a major function of electrolytes?
- Controlling osmosis of water between fluid compartments
- Helping to maintain acid-base balance
- Carrying electrical current for nerve impulses
- Providing a primary source of calories
- What is the role of the sodium-potassium pump?
- To move sodium into the cell and potassium out of the cell
- To move sodium and potassium into the cell
- To move sodium out of the cell and potassium into the cell
- To move sodium and potassium out of the cell
- The main components of the extracellular fluid (ECF) are:
- Cytosol and nucleoplasm
- Plasma and interstitial fluid
- Blood and lymph
- Water and proteins
- Calcium gluconate is used to treat:
- Hypokalemia
- Hypocalcemia
- Hyponatremia
- Hypermagnesemia
- A state of acidosis means the blood pH is:
- Above 7.45
- Below 7.35
- Exactly 7.0
- Exactly 7.4
- Which electrolyte is the most important for bone health, along with phosphate?
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Calcium
- Chloride
- The principal intracellular anions are:
- Chloride and bicarbonate
- Phosphate and proteins
- Sodium and potassium
- Calcium and magnesium
- Which of the following is used as an electrolyte replenisher?
- Sodium Chloride
- Potassium Chloride
- Calcium Gluconate
- All of the above
- The Ringer’s solution is a type of electrolyte solution that contains:
- Only sodium chloride
- Sodium, potassium, and calcium chlorides
- Sodium chloride and glucose
- Only potassium chloride
- The body’s fluid and electrolyte balance is primarily regulated by hormones acting on the:
- Liver
- Stomach
- Kidneys
- Spleen
- Which ion is a critical component of hydrochloric acid in the stomach?
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Chloride
- Bicarbonate
- A state of alkalosis means the blood pH is:
- Below 7.35
- Above 7.45
- Exactly 7.0
- Decreasing
- The majority of the body’s total fluid is:
- Plasma
- Interstitial fluid
- Intracellular fluid
- Lymph
- Why should potassium chloride be administered slowly and in a dilute solution when given intravenously?
- It is very irritating to veins.
- Rapid administration can cause fatal cardiac arrest.
- It is poorly soluble.
- It can cause dehydration.
- Which of the following is NOT a component of the WHO-recommended ORS formula?
- Sodium chloride
- Glucose
- Calcium carbonate
- Potassium chloride
- The concentration of electrolytes is often expressed in which unit?
- Grams per liter (g/L)
- Milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L)
- Moles per kilogram (mol/kg)
- Percentage by volume (% v/v)
- Which electrolyte plays a key role as a cofactor for many enzymes, including those involved in ATP metabolism?
- Sodium
- Calcium
- Chloride
- Magnesium
- The balance between acids and bases in the body is maintained by:
- Buffer systems
- Respiration (exhalation of CO₂)
- Kidney excretion
- All of the above
- The movement of water between fluid compartments is regulated by:
- Hydrostatic and osmotic pressures
- Temperature
- Body weight
- Gravity
- Which of the following would NOT be considered replacement therapy?
- Administering saline to a dehydrated patient.
- Giving ORS for diarrhea.
- Administering potassium chloride for hypokalemia.
- Administering an antibiotic for an infection.
- The most abundant mineral in the human body is:
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Iron
- Calcium
- The correct physiological acid-base balance is crucial for:
- Normal enzyme function
- Oxygen transport by hemoglobin
- Maintaining membrane potentials
- All of the above
I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.
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