Clinical Medicine – Electrolytes & Acid-Base Q&A (40+ Questions) | 2025 | Sodium, Potassium, pH, ABG Interpretation

This comprehensive and exam-oriented document offers 40+ expertly verified questions and answers covering electrolyte disorders and acid-base balance, an essential component of the 2025 Clinical Medicine curriculum. It provides normal reference values for major serum electrolytes including sodium, potassium, calcium (total and ionized), phosphate, and magnesium, as well as standard arterial blood gas (ABG) parameters such as pH, pCO₂, and HCO₃⁻. Key topics include the clinical presentation, causes, and treatments of hypo- and hypernatremia, hypo- and hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, hypomagnesemia, and more. It also explains the pathophysiology and compensatory responses involved in metabolic and respiratory acidosis/alkalosis, and how to interpret these patterns. The guide highlights important clinical signs such as Chvostek’s and Trousseau’s, and management approaches like IV calcium gluconate, loop diuretics, oral supplements, insulin with glucose, or dialysis for severe cases. This document is ideal for medical students, nursing students, physician associate programs, and others preparing for internal medicine, emergency care, clinical skills exams, or lab result interpretation. Keywords: electrolyte imbalance, sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphate, magnesium, hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia, metabolic acidosis, respiratory alkalosis, ABG interpretation, pH range, Trousseau’s sign, Chvostek’s sign, calcium gluconate, acid-base compensation, diuretic therapy, renal failure