174 BIOLOGY 1412 Diversity of Form and Function Pre-Lab Questions: 1. Which ion

Question

174 BIOLOGY 1412 Diversity of Form and Function Pre-Lab Questions: 1. Which ion is more concentrated on the outside of the cell? Which ion is more concentrated inside? IfNa. could suddenly move freely in either direction through the membrane, which direction would it go? Explain your reasoning (Hint: There are 2 reasons.) 2. 3. If Na did move as you describe above, what effect would that have on the potential 4. If K could suddenly move freely in either direction through the membrane, which direction would it go? Explain your reasoning (Hint: 1 reason.) 5. If K did move as you describe above, what effect would that have on the potential? The resting potential of animal cells is a negative voltage. Considering your answers to the questions above, which ion (sodium or potassium) is the membrane more permeable to at rest? Which type of channel is responsible for this permeability? 6.

Explanation / Answer

1. Sodium ions are more concentrated on the outside of a cell. Potassium ions are more concentrated on the inside of a cell.

2. Sodium ions would move from the outside to the inside of the cell. This is because of the concentration gradient, and ions tend to move from the region of higher concentration to the region of lower concentration.

3. This will alter the electrical potential of the cell if sodium ions move inside the cell. The charge outside the cell will be now less positive.

4. Potassium ions would move from the inside to the outside of the cell. This is because of the concentration gradient, and ions tend to move from the region of higher concentration to the region of lower concentration.

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