Solutions

 

 

solution

- homogenous mixture formed by the dispersion of a gaseous, liquid or solid substance [solute] within a liquid [solvent]

 

 

Types of Solutions

crystalloid

 solution

- the solute particles are of such a size & nature to become equally dispersed in the solvent by Brownian motion — will remain homogeneously dispersed despite gravity.

- include small ions, simple acids/bases, small organic molecules (glucose), small nitrogenous molecules (urea).

- upper limit 50K — 100K Daltons

- not restricted by biological membranes

colloidal

solution

the solute particles will be subjected to gravity [of extreme time duration] thus resulting in the solution losing its homogeneity.

- lower limit 40K — 50K Daltons

- restricted by biological membranes

suspension

the solute particles will be subjected to gravity [once mixing or stirring has ceased] thus resulting in the solution losing its homogeneity.

- eg well mixed blood

 

 

Descriptions of Concentrations of Solute in Solvent

Volume per 100 volumes

- eg Hct of 40% — for every 100 mls blood, the cells occupy 40 mls

- eg concentration of O2 in arterial blood is 20 vol% — for every 100 ml blood, 20 ml of O2 therein dissolved

Weight per 100 weights

- most accurate concentration designation

- not affected by temperature

- not used in medicine

Weight per 100 volumes

- eg 15 gm% Hb concentration — 15 gm Hb per 100 mls blood

- is preferable to use 15 gm/dl blood

 

 

 

Descriptions of Concentrations of Solute in Solvent in terms of chemical or physical activity

mole

- molecular weight of a substance in grams [gm molecular weight]

- 6.25 x 1018 atoms, ions, molecules

molar

- weight per volume concentration

- ie 1 molar solution contains 1 mole of the specified solute per 1000 mls solution

- eg 180 gm dextrose made up to 1 L — 1 molar concentration of dextrose

- eg 58.5 gm NaCl [ Na=23 + Cl=35.5] in 1 L solution — 1 molar concentration

molal

- a weight per weight designation

- ie 1 molal solution contains 1 mole of the specified solute per 1000 gms solution

- less used in medicine

equivalents

- gram-equivalent weight of a substance is that weight of a substance that will react with 1 mole [1.008 gm] H+

- eg 1 mole (58.5 gm) NaCl in 1 L solution [ie a 1 molar concentration]; as have 1 mole Na + 1 mole Cl and both Na & Cl have valencies of 1, the Na in this 1 molar solution is equivalent to 1 mole of hydrogen & ditto for Cl — the concentration of Na+ (& Cl-) is one equivalent per litre

- eg 1 mole (111 gm)  CaCl2 in 1 L solution [ie a 1 molar concentration]; as have 1 mole Ca + 2 mole Cl and as Ca has a valency of 2 & Cl a valency of 1, the Ca in this 1 molar solution is equivalent to 2 mole of hydrogen & ditto for Cl — the concentration of Ca2+ (& Cl-) is two equivalents per litre

normality

- a normal solution has 1 gm equivalent weight [1 mole] of solute in 1 L of solution

- another means of expressing equivalents

- not used in medicine

 

 

 

Descriptions of Concentrations of Solute in Solvent in terms of total number of particles disregarding chemical activity of the individual particles

osmole

- the unit of osmolarity

- 6.25 x 1018 particles per 1000 ml fluid

- eg 1 mole dextrose in 1L —> 1 osmole/L

- eg 1 mole NaCl in 1L —> 2 osmole/L

- eg 1 mole CaCl2 in 1L —> 3 osmole/L

- eg 1 osmole/L solution CaCl2 —> 1/3 mole or 111/3 = 37 gm

osmosis

- movement of a solvent [water] through a semipermeable [permeable only to the solvent] membrane from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute concentration

osmotic pressure

- pressure required to stop osmosis

- cmH20 or mmHg

tonicity

- a relative term comparing osmotic pressure exerted by various solutions

- eg pure water is hypotonic relative to red cell [.307 osmoles]