NAFC Nutrition Coach Practice Exam

Substances that contain free ions and can conduct electricity are known as electrolytes. These ions can dissociate in solution, typically in water, allowing for the movement of electrical charge through the liquid. Electrolytes are crucial for various physiological functions, including nerve transmission and muscle contraction, because they help maintain the body's fluid balance and support cellular processes.

In contrast, solutes are any substances dissolved in a solvent, which can include electrolytes but are not limited to them. Minerals refer to inorganic substances that the body needs for various functions but do not specifically indicate electrical conductivity due to free ions. Vitamins are organic compounds essential for various bodily functions but do not relate to electrical conductivity at all. Therefore, the term that best describes substances enabling electrical conductivity through free ions is electrolytes.

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