and Acid-Base Balance Questions and
Answers.
Intravenous (IV) - Answer into a vein
venipuncture - Answer puncture of a vein to remove blood, instill a medication, or start an
intravenous infusion
Sodium - Answer Na; 135-145 mEq/L
Potassium - Answer K; 3.5-5.0
Chloride - Answer Cl; major negative ion in the body
Magnesium - Answer Mg2+
Calcium - Answer Ca2+
Hyponatremia - Answer deficient sodium in the blood
Hypernatremia - Answer high sodium
Hypokalemia - Answer deficient potassium in the blood; most common cause is diuretics
Hyperkalemia - Answer excessive potassium in the blood; most common causes are
medications and renal failure
Hypocalcemia - Answer deficient calcium in the blood; can be caused by parathyroid injury
and medications
Hypercalcemia - Answer excessive calcium in the blood; can be caused by cancer (especially
with bone metastases)
Hypomagnesemia - Answer insufficient amount of magnesium in the extracellular fluid