Anion gap

The anion gap is like playing a game of catch with friends. But instead of using a normal ball, we use two types of balls: red balls (positive) and blue balls (negative). The number of balls we throw to each other is very important.

When we play, we can count the number of red balls and the number of blue balls we throw. Let's say we threw 10 red balls and 8 blue balls. The difference between the two (10 - 8) is the anion gap, which is 2.

This is important because it tells us how the body is doing with the chemicals inside. If there are too many blue balls, it means the body has too many acid ions. If there are too many red balls, it means the body has too many base ions.

So when the anion gap is too high or too low, it can mean there is a problem with the body's chemistry. Doctors can use this information to help diagnose and treat problems like kidney disease or diabetes.