PROBLEM SET ON MEMBRANE POTENTIAL

PROBLEM-SOLVING. Compute for the missing item in each problem. Show computations
using Microsoft Equation Editor.

1. The intracellular and extracellular concentrations of four ions are as follows: [Cl-](in) = 15mM;
[Cl-](out) = 150mM; [Na+](in) = 15mM; [Na+](out) = 150mM; [Mg2+](in) = 15mM; [Mg2+](out) =
1.5mM; [K+](in) = 150mM; [K+](out) = 15mM. Which of the ions are in equilibrium when the
membrane potential is -58 mV ? Assume 18oC. (2 answers)

2. The ambient temperature of a hydrothermal vent tube worm is 80oC. The ion concentrations
of its cells are unusual: [Na+](in) = 10 mM, [Na+](out) = 100mM; [K+](in) = 10 mM, [K+](out) = 5
mM; [Cl-](in) = 100mM, [Cl-](out) = 10 mM. What is the resting membrane potential if these worm
neurons are equally permeable to both Na+ and K+, but not Cl-?