Natural Chemicals
Chloride
Category: Natural chemicals
Type
Voluntary
Introduction and description
The chloride ion is formed when the element chlorine (a halogen) gains an electron to form an anion (negatively charged ion) Cl−. The salts of hydrochloric acid contain chloride ions and can also be called chlorides. The chloride ion, and its salts such as sodium chloride, are very soluble in water.
Chloride is an essential electrolyte located in all body fluids responsible for maintaining acid/base balance, transmitting nerve impulses and regulating fluid in and out of cells. Within the Physical nervous system the ion channels are permeable only to specific types of ions. Charge-carrying ions include sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), chloride (Cl-), and calcium (Ca2+).
Thus any deficiency or imbalance will cause nervous system problems and muscular problems such as muscle twitching or weakness.
Chloride imbalance is described in the overload section
Sources of chloride
Table and sea salt - which is sodium chloride with the chemical formula NaCl. In water, it dissociates into Na+ and Cl− ions.