To determine:
The mechanism of the sodium-potassium pumps, which helps in moving ions across the cell membrane.
Introduction:
The plasma membrane is a semi-permeable membrane which allows certain molecules to move in and out across the membrane. There is a different mechanism like osmosis, diffusion, and active transport. The sodium-potassium pump moves ions across the cell membrane by the process of active transport.
Explanation of Solution
Active transport uses energy to move molecules against a concentration gradient. The cytosol of animal cells contains a concentration of potassium ions (K+) much higher than that in the extracellular fluid. These concentration gradients are established by the active transport of both ions. It uses the energy from the hydrolysis of ATP to actively transport three molecules of Na+ ions out of the cell for every two molecules of K+ ions pumped into the cell.
Active transport is the movement of molecules across a membrane from a region of their lower concentration to a region of their higher concentration, in the direction against the concentration gradient.
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