The mineral category of electrolytes includes sodium, chloride, and _____?

• A. Potassium
• B. Calcium
• C. Magnesium
• D. Phosphorus

Answer: (A)

Electrolytes are minerals that dissolve into ions in bodily fluids and are essential for fluid balance and electrical activity in the body. The major electrolytes usually discussed together are sodium and chloride, which largely manage extracellular fluid balance. The missing electrolyte in this common trio is potassium, the primary intracellular electrolyte, which is crucial for setting the resting membrane potential and for nerve impulses and muscle contractions, including the heartbeat. Calcium and magnesium are important minerals and can act as electrolytes, but they’re not the best match for this particular trio, and phosphorus isn’t an electrolyte.