Sodium plays its role in the human body as electrolyte. Its purpose in the body is to maintain normal blood pressure, helps in the absorption of nutrients, regulation of the blood volume and maintenance of the cell membrane potential. The quantity of sodium found in the blood has a close connection to the amount of water found in the body. The level of sodium found in the blood is determined by the amount of sodium and water consumed as well as the amount excreted in the urine. Some sodium is excreted from the body through sweating and stool. When sodium is extremely high, the body holds more water which increases the blood pressure as the increased amount of water makes the heart to work harder. Correct amount of electrolytes in the body is very crucial in maintaining fluid balance (Rush, Dale, and Emanuel 44).
Sodium and Potassium are physically occurring alkaline metals that reflect a lot of similarities in their behavior. Both of them are vital for all life forms. Sodium and potassium ions are very reactive and easily dissolve in water. Both of them are also found as components of different minerals. They both differ in that Sodium is found in liquids outside cells in the body, whereas potassium ion is found outside the cells in fluids. Sodium has an atomic number of 11, whereas potassium has an atomic number of 19. Potassium is less dense than sodium. Potassium is highly reactive with water than sodium (Sellmeyer, Deborah, Monique, and Anthony 34).
Sodium and chloride have some similarity in that both ions are highly soluble in water. They are most common dissolved components by weight in the oceanic waters. Both sodium and chloride are found in the body fluids and help to control the amount of acidity or alkaline in the body. In contrast to chloride, sodium maintains the level of blood pressure while chloride improves digestion.
Works Cited
Rush, Dale W., and Emanuel Epstein. "Comparative studies on the sodium, potassium, and chloride relations of a wild halophytic and a domestic salt-sensitive tomato species." Plant physiology 68.6 (1981): 1308-1313.
Sellmeyer, Deborah E, Monique Schloetter, and Anthony Sebastian. "Potassium citrate prevents increased urine calcium excretion and bone resorption induced by a high sodium chloride diet." Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 87.5 (2002): 2008-2012.
