Chapter 18, Problem 67RPP

BIO Electric discharge by eels In several aquatic animals such as the South American electric eel electric organs produce 600-V potential difference pulses to ward off predators as well as to stun prey Figure 18.29 illustrates the key component that produces this electric shock—an electrolyte. The interior of an inactive electrolyte (Figure 18.29a) has an excess of negatively charged ions. The exterior has an excess of positively charged sodium ions $\left({\text{Na}}^{\text{+}}\right)$ on the left side and positively charged potassium ions $\left({\text{K}}^{\text{+}}\right)$ on the right. There is a -90-mV electric potential difference from outside the cell membrane to inside the electrolyte cell membrane, but zero potential from one exterior side to the other exterior side. How then does an eel produce the 600-V potential difference necessary to stun an intruder?

The eel's long trunk and tail contain many electrolytes placed one after the other in columns (Figures 18.29b and c). Each electrolyte contains several types of ion channels, which when activated by a nerve impulse allow sodium ions to pass through channels on the loft flat side of each electrolyte from outside the cell to the inside. This causes the electric potential across that cell membrane to change from $\text{-90 mV to +50 mV}$. The electric potential from the left external side to the right external side of an electrolyte is now about 100 mV (Figure 18.29c). With about 6000 electrolytes placed one after the other (menses), the eel is able to produce an electric impulse of over 600 V (6000 electrolytes in series times 0.10 V per electrolyte) The discharge lasts about 2-3 ms.

Look at the electrolyte shown in Figure 18.29c. What causes the 0.10-V potential difference from the outer left to the outer right side of the cell?

a. The membrane is thicker on the left than on the right.

b. The ion distribution across the left membrane is different than across the right membrane.

c. The left and right membranes have different capacitances.

d. b and c

e. a, b, and c