Electrolyte Challenge Sensor Kit

ONLINE INSTRUCTIONS:  Find your kit instructions on Science Buddies

Settle the sports drink debate by building your own electrolyte sensor.

Sports drinks are marketed as the go-to way to replenish the electrolytes you lose when you sweat, but do they actually contain more electrolytes than a drink like orange juice? This kit gives you the tools to build a real electrolyte sensor from a multimeter, copper wire, and a 9-volt battery, then use it to measure and compare electrolyte concentration in any drink you want to test. Higher conductance means more dissolved charged ions in the solution, so once your sensor is built, you can test anything else in your fridge and see the results yourself instead of taking an ad's word for it.

Key Questions Students Explore:

• How does the concentration of electrolytes in a solution affect how well it conducts electricity?
• What does your sensor's current reading actually tell you about a drink's electrolyte concentration?
• Does a sports drink really contain more electrolytes than orange juice?  What about other drinks, like coconut water?

Once you've tested a few drinks, try experimenting with your own recipes.  Dilute orange juice, mix your own blend, and see if you can build a homemade sports drink that holds its own. This kit requires a few additional items from home.  Check the linked instructions for full details.  

Instructions available online from Science Buddies. Click the button below.

If you have questions about your kit, please see the following FAQ article from Science Buddies:

• Electrolyte Challenge Sensor Kit FAQ

Each Electrolyte Challenge Sensor Kit contains:

• Digital multimeter
• Copper wire, bare
• 9-V battery
• 9-V battery clip
• Alligator clip leads (colors may vary)
• 1K Ohm resistor