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milliequivalent

milliequivalent

8.9
A small unit that measures how much chemical is present, equal to one thousandth of a combining unit
  • noun
  • /ˌmɪliɪˈkwɪvələnt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : miliequivalente
  • The doctor calculated the patient's potassium level in milliequivalents per liter.

Examples

  • A solution contains 5 milliequivalents of sodium.

  • Accurate measurement in milliequivalents is essential in electrolyte balance studies.

  • You may see the dose expressed as milliequivalent on some medication labels.

  • Each milliequivalent represents a specific amount of ions.

  • In chemistry, the concentration of electrolytes is often reported in milliequivalents per liter.

  • The nutritionist recommended adjusting the sodium intake to 2 milliequivalents for optimal health.

  • When preparing the solution, it is important to measure accurately in milliequivalents to avoid any imbalance.

Synonyms

meq
vsmilliequivalent
  • Specialized
1 8.4

A small unit for measuring sodium or potassium amounts in a liquid, used in medicine

is the full written name of the same unit used in formal contexts

How Much

equivalent
  • Specialized
9 8.1
milliequivalent
  • Specialized
8.9

Surface Forms

Morphology

milliequivalent = equivalent (transparent) = milli + equivalent

A straightforward SI-prefix 'milli-' (one-thousandth) attached to 'equivalent', yielding 'one-thousandth of an equivalent'.

Etymology

Milliequivalent is made from the small part milli- meaning 'one thousandth' and equivalent, from a root meaning 'equal', the same idea you see in the word equal. So a milliequivalent is a very small 'equal' unit used in chemistry to show how much of a substance has the same chemical effect or combining power.