How many mEq of sodium are in 1 gram of sodium?

To determine how many milliequivalents (mEq) of sodium are in 1 gram of sodium, we need to understand the molecular weight of sodium and how to convert grams to milliequivalents.

Sodium has an atomic weight of approximately 23 grams per mole. The equivalence factor for sodium is 1 because one mole of sodium ions contributes one equivalent of charge.

To convert grams of sodium to mEq, the following formula is used:

1. Calculate the number of moles of sodium in 1 gram:

• Moles of sodium = 1 gram / 23 grams/mole = 0.043478 moles of sodium.

2. Since 1 mole of sodium equals 1 equivalent, this means that:

• 0.043478 moles * 1000 mEq/mole = 43.478 mEq of sodium per gram.

Therefore, rounding this value, we find that there are approximately 43 mEq of sodium in 1 gram of sodium. This makes the correct answer 43 mEq.