HNF 150 WATER & MINERALS QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 UPDATE
Major roles of water - Answers - I. Carries nutrients
II. Cleanses tissue & blood
III. Solvent
IV. Involved in chemical reactions
V. Lubricant around joints
VI. Shock absorber
VII. Regulates body temperature
Symptoms of dehydration - Answers - Thirst, dry mouth, lack of energy/feeling tired,
rough dry skin, pale skin, elevated heart rate, headache, dizziness, fainting, etc.
What is usually the first sign of dehydration?
A. Fainting
B. Dizziness
C. Thirst
D. Headache
E. Elevated heart rate - Answers - C. Thirst
What are the causes of dehydration? - Answers - Don't drink enough fluids, Use
diuretics (alcohol, caffeine), Eat lots of salt & sugar
Describe fluid and electrolyte balance - Answers - The maintenance of the proper
amounts and kinds of fluids and minerals in each compartment of the body.
Identify the roles of minerals in maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance and acid-base
balance. - Answers - Mineral salts form electrolytes that help keep fluids in their proper
compartments and buffer these fluids. Minerals also act as buffers in acid-base balance
to help maintain body fluids at the correct pH.
What are the major cations and anions of intracellular fluid? - Answers - Cations:
Potassium (K+), Magnesium (MG2+)
Anions: Phosphate-, Sulfate (SO4-)
What are the major cations and anions of extracellular fluid? - Answers - Cations:
Sodium (Na+), Calcium (Ca2+)
Anions: Chloride (Cl-), Bicarbonate (HCO3-)
, How is water regulated in the body? - Answers - 1. In the brain, the hypothalamus
receives signals of increased blood concentration from various receptors. It responds by
stimulating the posterior pituitary gland.
2. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is released by the posterior pituitary gland.
3. The ADH acts on the kidney to increase water retention
4. Blood volume and, in turn, blood pressure are increased and restored to normal
What are sources of water input? - Answers - Fluids, water content in food, water
produced by metabolism
What are sources of water output? - Answers - Skin perspiration, lung respiration, feces,
kidneys (urine)
Define hard water - Answers - -More minerals overall than soft water
-Makes up about 85% of water in the U.S.
-Leaves deposits
What minerals are most abundant in hard water? - Answers - Calcium (Ca) &
Magnesium (Mg)
Define soft water - Answers - -Less minerals than hard water
-Easier on appliances and pipes
-Not as palatable
What minerals are most abundant in soft water? - Answers - Sodium (Na) & Potassium
(K)
Which type of water is more highly regulated?
A. tap water
B. bottled water - Answers - A. tap water
What is the major functions of Iodine? - Answers - -A component of the thyroid
hormone, thyroxine
-Responsible for regulating the Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)
-Vital for many metabolic & developmental functions
Goiter results as a deficiency of what mineral? - Answers - Iodine
Enlargement of thyroid gland is known as: - Answers - Goiter
Cretinism results as a deficiency of what mineral? - Answers - Iodine
Abnormalities to offspring during development that affect brain development & physical
growth is known as: - Answers - Cretinism
ANSWERS 2026 UPDATE
Major roles of water - Answers - I. Carries nutrients
II. Cleanses tissue & blood
III. Solvent
IV. Involved in chemical reactions
V. Lubricant around joints
VI. Shock absorber
VII. Regulates body temperature
Symptoms of dehydration - Answers - Thirst, dry mouth, lack of energy/feeling tired,
rough dry skin, pale skin, elevated heart rate, headache, dizziness, fainting, etc.
What is usually the first sign of dehydration?
A. Fainting
B. Dizziness
C. Thirst
D. Headache
E. Elevated heart rate - Answers - C. Thirst
What are the causes of dehydration? - Answers - Don't drink enough fluids, Use
diuretics (alcohol, caffeine), Eat lots of salt & sugar
Describe fluid and electrolyte balance - Answers - The maintenance of the proper
amounts and kinds of fluids and minerals in each compartment of the body.
Identify the roles of minerals in maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance and acid-base
balance. - Answers - Mineral salts form electrolytes that help keep fluids in their proper
compartments and buffer these fluids. Minerals also act as buffers in acid-base balance
to help maintain body fluids at the correct pH.
What are the major cations and anions of intracellular fluid? - Answers - Cations:
Potassium (K+), Magnesium (MG2+)
Anions: Phosphate-, Sulfate (SO4-)
What are the major cations and anions of extracellular fluid? - Answers - Cations:
Sodium (Na+), Calcium (Ca2+)
Anions: Chloride (Cl-), Bicarbonate (HCO3-)
, How is water regulated in the body? - Answers - 1. In the brain, the hypothalamus
receives signals of increased blood concentration from various receptors. It responds by
stimulating the posterior pituitary gland.
2. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is released by the posterior pituitary gland.
3. The ADH acts on the kidney to increase water retention
4. Blood volume and, in turn, blood pressure are increased and restored to normal
What are sources of water input? - Answers - Fluids, water content in food, water
produced by metabolism
What are sources of water output? - Answers - Skin perspiration, lung respiration, feces,
kidneys (urine)
Define hard water - Answers - -More minerals overall than soft water
-Makes up about 85% of water in the U.S.
-Leaves deposits
What minerals are most abundant in hard water? - Answers - Calcium (Ca) &
Magnesium (Mg)
Define soft water - Answers - -Less minerals than hard water
-Easier on appliances and pipes
-Not as palatable
What minerals are most abundant in soft water? - Answers - Sodium (Na) & Potassium
(K)
Which type of water is more highly regulated?
A. tap water
B. bottled water - Answers - A. tap water
What is the major functions of Iodine? - Answers - -A component of the thyroid
hormone, thyroxine
-Responsible for regulating the Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)
-Vital for many metabolic & developmental functions
Goiter results as a deficiency of what mineral? - Answers - Iodine
Enlargement of thyroid gland is known as: - Answers - Goiter
Cretinism results as a deficiency of what mineral? - Answers - Iodine
Abnormalities to offspring during development that affect brain development & physical
growth is known as: - Answers - Cretinism
