Table 1.

Composition of the most common solutions available in clinical practice.

Solution	Na+ (mEq/L)	K+ (mEq/L)	Cl- (mEq/L)	Glucose (g/L / mM)	Osmolarity (mOsm/L)	pH
0.9% NaCl (Normal saline)	154	0	154	0	308	5
0.45% NaCl (½ Normal saline)	77	0	77	0	154	5
0.22% NaCl (¼ Normal saline)	39	0	39	0	78	5
Ringer’s solutions *	130	4	109	0	273	6.5
5% Glucose in water †	0	0	0	50 / 278	278 †	5
10% Glucose in water †	0	0	0	100 / 556	556 †	5
5% Glucose in 0.45% NaCl †	77	0	77	50 / 278	406 †	5

*The table reports the typical composition of Ringer’s solutions, but the content of each component may slightly vary among different producers.

†Since glucose is rapidly absorbed into the cells as a result of insulin action, the solutions of glucose in water can be considered hypotonic (although 5% is actually isotonic and 10% hypertonic); similarly, the final tonicity of the solutions of glucose in saline depends on the sodium chloride concentration (usually 0.45%).