Short Answer 
Millimoles per liter (mMol/L) measures the concentration of ions in a solution, while milliequivalents per liter (meq/L) considers the total electrical charge of those ions. To convert mMol/L to meq/L, one must multiply the mMol/L value by the charge of the ion. This conversion is particularly significant in medical applications for maintaining electrolyte balance.
Step 1: Understanding Millimoles per Liter (mMol/L)
Millimoles per liter (mMol/L) is a unit of measurement that reflects the concentration of ions in a solution. It indicates how many millimoles of a substance are present in one liter of solution. This concept is crucial in various scientific fields, especially in chemistry and biology, where precise measurements of ion concentrations are needed for various applications.
Step 2: Introduction to Milliequivalents per Liter (meq/L)
Milliequivalents per liter (meq/L) measures the total electrical charge of ions in a solution. It takes into account not only the concentration of ions but also the *charge* on each ion. The relationship is established as follows: to convert mMol/L to meq/L, multiply the mMol/L value by the ion’s charge number, which reflects how many equivalents of charge are produced by each mole of ion.
Step 3: Practical Conversion Examples
To effectively understand the conversion between mMol/L and meq/L, consider the following examples:
- A 1 mMol/L solution of sodium chloride (NaCl) results in a 1 meq/L concentration of Na+ ions, because sodium has a +1 charge.
- In contrast, a 1 mMol/L solution of calcium (Ca√C¬≤+) translates to 2 meq/L since calcium has a +2 charge.
- This conversion is especially important in *medical contexts*, where maintaining electrolyte balance is essential for patient care.