Question

Determine whether the following statement is true or false and then explain why in one or two sentences.

The membrane potential results from charges moving across the membrane that has a very small effect on the concentrations of the ions, and as a result there is only a very minor difference in the number of negative and positive ions on each side of the membrane. Determine whether the following statements are true or false and then explain why in one or two sentences.

Answer 1

The statement is not entirely correct.

Generally inside the cell there are K+ ions and other negatively charged biomolecules like proteins in high concentration. On the outer side of the cell there are Na+and Cl- ions in high concentration. The membrane potential generates as there are potassium leak channels in the membrane through which K+ ion constantly moves outwards as there is a low concentration of K+ ions outside of the cell. Due to this migration there are uncompensated negative charges left inside the cell and this generates membrane potential as there is difference in charge between the both sides of the membrane.