Which definition most accurately describes an electrolyte in physiological terms?

• A. An electrolyte is any organic molecule that increases osmotic pressure in plasma and is metabolized by cells to produce ATP, often acting as a signaling hormone in endocrine pathways of the body.
• B. An electrolyte is a type of lipid-soluble vitamin that dissolves in cell membranes and participates in long-term storage of energy and fat-soluble signaling functions.
• C. An electrolyte refers only to proteins in the plasma that buffer pH and has no relationship to simple inorganic ions or the transmission of electrical signals in nerve or muscle.
• D. An electrolyte is a mineral that dissociates into charged ions when dissolved in water and thereby can carry electrical current across biological fluids and across cell membranes.

Answer: (D)