The balance of anions and cations as it occurs across cell membranes is known as:
A. Osmotic activity
B. Electrical neutrality
C. Electrical stability
D. Sodium-potassium pump
Correct Answer: B. Electrical neutrality
Electrical neutrality refers to a state in which the same number of positively charged ions and negatively charged ions are present on either side of the membrane. The amount of charge on a single proton is equal to the amount of charge possessed by a single electron. A proton and an electron have an equal amount but an opposite type of charge. Thus, if an atom contains equal numbers of protons and electrons, the atom is described as being electrically neutral.
Option A: Osmotic activity refers to the attraction of a solute to a solvent. Osmotic activity is a passive process in which water diffuses across a cell membrane in response to a concentration gradient.
Option C: The fundamental structure of the membrane is the phospholipid bilayer, which forms a stable barrier between two aqueous compartments. In the case of the plasma membrane, these compartments are the inside and the outside of the cell.
Option D: Sodium-potassium pump refers to the exchange of electrolytes. The sodium and potassium move against the concentration gradients. The Na+ K+-ATPase pump maintains the gradient of a higher concentration of sodium extracellularly and a higher level of potassium intracellularly.
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