- #1
ndy890
Hi Everyone,
I was just learning about action potential generation via electrochemical gradients. I was just wondering, does anyone know whether a +1 unit of concentration gradient is stronger/weaker than a +1 unit of electrical gradient?
For example: If side-A of a split chamber had a net charge of +1, while side-B had a balanced net charge of 0. But side-B had one extra K+ ion than side-A. If the membrane was only permeable to K+ ions, the concentration gradient of side B would cause a force on the K+ ions (on side-B) to go to side-A, but the electrical gradient on side-A would cause a force on K+ ions (on side-A) to go to side-B. Which force is stronger?
What term would I have to google to learn more about the forces generated by each gradient and each marginal unit of increase/decrease of concentration/charge? - This is all very interesting to me! :)
Nate
I was just learning about action potential generation via electrochemical gradients. I was just wondering, does anyone know whether a +1 unit of concentration gradient is stronger/weaker than a +1 unit of electrical gradient?
For example: If side-A of a split chamber had a net charge of +1, while side-B had a balanced net charge of 0. But side-B had one extra K+ ion than side-A. If the membrane was only permeable to K+ ions, the concentration gradient of side B would cause a force on the K+ ions (on side-B) to go to side-A, but the electrical gradient on side-A would cause a force on K+ ions (on side-A) to go to side-B. Which force is stronger?
What term would I have to google to learn more about the forces generated by each gradient and each marginal unit of increase/decrease of concentration/charge? - This is all very interesting to me! :)
Nate