Final answer:
Sodium, potassium, and chloride are three key electrolytes that maintain acid/base balance in the body. They regulate water, nerve impulses, heartbeat, and pH levels. An imbalance in these electrolytes can lead to acidosis or alkalosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three electrolytes that play an essential role in maintaining the acid/base balance in the human body are sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), and chloride (Cl-). These electrolytes have significant functions, including the regulation of the body's water content, the transmission of electrical impulses in the nervous system, the maintenance of a regular heartbeat, and the balance of charges to support blood pH. Sodium and potassium, for instance, are involved in the electrical activities of neurons and muscles, while chloride helps to balance out the positives charges of these cations, assisting in the maintenance of proper pH levels in the blood.
Further roles of these ions include influencing nerve excitability, membrane permeability, and buffering body fluids. Electrolytes like sodium bicarbonate and sodium phosphate serve as part of buffer systems that help to regulate pH in both extracellular and intracellular fluids. An imbalance of these electrolytes can result in conditions such as acidosis or alkalosis, which describe the blood's pH being too low (acidic) or too high (alkaline), respectively.