Electroneutrality Within the IFC

CooperS

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11 years ago

Hi,

I am confused about charge dispersal within the intracellular fluid compartment (IFC).

My textbook says "However, the intracellular compartment is not electrically neutral: there are some protein anions inside cells that do not have matching cations, giving the cells a net negative charge."

But then I have another source saying "Within a fluid compartment, the total number of positive charges must equal the total number of negative charges."

Neutral Face

Aren't they contradictory statements? Which one is true?

Thanks,
CooperS

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~Cooper

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mikael

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11 years ago

Quote from: CooperS (11 years ago)

But then I have another source saying "Within a fluid compartment, the total number of positive charges must equal the total number of negative charges."

That's definitely wrong, first statement is correct.

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CooperS Author

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11 years ago

Quote from: mikael (11 years ago)

Quote from: CooperS (11 years ago)

But then I have another source saying "Within a fluid compartment, the total number of positive charges must equal the total number of negative charges."

That's definitely wrong, first statement is correct.

Thanks for your answer Slight Smile

Er...but that source is an interactive program that comes with my textbook and my prof. showed it in class Confounded Face

. Maybe it means that if cations like K+ weren't moving out of the cell due to their conc. gradient, they would all have an anion to pair with. Because isn't it these anions that the cations leave behind which creates the equilibrium potential for specific ions?

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~Cooper

mikael

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11 years ago

Quote from: CooperS (11 years ago)

Er...but that source is an interactive program that comes with my textbook and my prof. showed it in class . Maybe it means that if cations like K+ weren't moving out of the cell due to their conc. gradient, they would all have an anion to pair with. Because isn't it these anions that the cations leave behind which creates the equilibrium potential for specific ions?

No, these anions don't work towards a common goal of obtaining equilibrium. They move from one compartment to another via proteins that pump them in an out. If they were uncharged, then yes they can pass through, otherwise no.

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