The concentration of k ions inside the nerve cell is about 20 times greater than concentration of these ions outside the nerve cell.what potential difference between outside and inside of the cell would you expect to measure if ths was only due to the concentration difference of potassium ions?

Use the Nernst equation:

E=(RT/zF)ln([K+]o/[K+]i)

Mind illustrating how??

Okay, I am assuming that this is at 25º C

R=8.314 J.K-1.mol-1
F=96485 C.mol-1
T=25+273.15
z=+1
[K+]o=1
[K+]i=20

E=(RT/zF)ln([K+]o/[K+]i)

E=(8.314 *298/(1*96485)ln(1/20)

E=61ln(1/20)=-183mV

Thank u so much:)

To determine the potential difference between the outside and inside of the cell, we need to consider the Nernst equation, which calculates the equilibrium potential for a specific ion across a membrane. The Nernst equation for potassium (K+) ions is as follows:

E = (RT/zF) * ln([K+]outside / [K+]inside)

Where:
- E represents the potential difference
- R is the gas constant (8.314 J/(mol·K))
- T is the temperature in Kelvin
- z is the valence (charge) of the ion (for potassium, this is +1)
- F is the Faraday constant (96,485 C/mol)
- [K+]outside and [K+]inside are the concentrations of potassium ions outside and inside the cell, respectively

Given that the concentration of K+ ions inside the nerve cell is 20 times greater than outside, we can assign values to the equation. Let's assume a typical intracellular K+ concentration of 150 mM (millimolar) and a typical extracellular concentration of 3 mM:

E = (RT/zF) * ln([K+]outside / [K+]inside)
E = (8.314 * 310 / (1 * 96485)) * ln(3 / 150)

By plugging in these values, we can calculate the potential difference (E) in volts.

Please note that the temperature (T) is assumed to be 37 degrees Celsius (310 K) and the valence (z) for potassium ions is +1.

Let's do the calculations:

E ≈ (2.712) * ln(0.02)
E ≈ (2.712) * (-3.912)

E ≈ -10.64 volts

Therefore, we would expect to measure a potential difference of approximately -10.64 volts across the membrane if the concentration difference of potassium ions was the only contributing factor.