Active Transport and the Sodium-Potassium Pump

Active transport is a cellular process requiring energy, typically in the form of ATP, to move molecules against their concentration gradient. The sodium-potassium pump is a key example, moving sodium ions out and potassium ions into the cell, creating an electrical gradient essential for various cellular functions, including nerve impulse generation.

What is required for active transport to occur in cells?

• Water

• Glucose

• Oxygen

• ATP

What is the primary function of the sodium-potassium pump?

• To produce ATP within the cell

• To exchange sodium and potassium ions across the cell membrane

• To transport glucose into the cell

• To move water molecules across the cell membrane

How many sodium ions are moved out of the cell by the sodium-potassium pump?

• One

• Two

• Four

• Three

What happens to the carrier protein when ATP is split during the sodium-potassium pump cycle?

• It releases glucose

• It changes shape

• It absorbs water

• It becomes inactive

What is released from the carrier protein when potassium ions are moved into the cell?

• Phosphate molecule

• Sodium ions

• Water

• ATP

What is the result of the unequal movement of sodium and potassium ions across the cell membrane?

• A pressure gradient

• A thermal gradient

• An electrical gradient

• A chemical gradient

Which cellular process utilizes the electrical gradient created by the sodium-potassium pump?

• Nerve impulse generation

• Protein synthesis

• Cell division

• Photosynthesis

How many potassium ions enter the cell for every three sodium ions that leave?

• One

• Three

• Two

• Four