mEq Calculator

| Added in Chemistry

What is mEq and Why Should You Care?

Milliequivalent (mEq) is a unit that measures the combining power of an element, especially useful when dealing with electrolytes. Understanding mEq is crucial in chemistry, medicine, and pharmacology for accurate dosing and solution preparation.

Whether you're a healthcare professional managing IV fluids, a student studying biochemistry, or working in a laboratory, knowing how to calculate mEq ensures precision and safety in your work.

How to Calculate mEq

The formula for calculating milliequivalents is:

[\text{mEq} = \frac{\text{mg of substance} \times \text{valence}}{\text{molecular weight}}]

Where:

  • mEq is the milliequivalent value
  • mg of substance is the mass in milligrams
  • Valence is the combining capacity (ionic charge) of the substance
  • Molecular Weight is measured in mg/mol

Calculation Example

Let's calculate the mEq for a substance with these values:

  • Mass: 30 mg
  • Valence: 2
  • Molecular Weight: 50 mg/mol

Using the formula:

[\text{mEq} = \frac{30 \times 2}{50} = \frac{60}{50} = 1.2 \text{ mEq}]

The milliequivalent value is 1.2 mEq.

Common Valence Values

Here are valence values for common electrolytes:

  • Sodium (Na+): 1
  • Potassium (K+): 1
  • Calcium (Ca2+): 2
  • Magnesium (Mg2+): 2
  • Chloride (Cl-): 1

Frequently Asked Questions

A milliequivalent (mEq) measures the combining power of an element, particularly useful for electrolytes. It helps ensure accurate dosing of substances like potassium, sodium, and calcium in medical and laboratory settings.

Valence represents the combining capacity or ionic charge of an element. For example, sodium has a valence of 1, calcium has a valence of 2, and aluminum has a valence of 3.

Molecular weight can be found in chemistry reference tables, on medication packaging, or calculated by adding the atomic weights of all atoms in the molecular formula.

mEq calculations are commonly used in healthcare for IV fluid preparation, medication dosing especially for electrolytes, and in laboratory settings for preparing chemical solutions.