Is the sodium-potassium pump active or passive?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking whether the sodium-potassium pump functions through active transport or passive transport. The sodium-potassium pump is known to actively transport sodium ions out of the cell and potassium ions into the cell against their concentration gradients, which requires energy in the form of ATP.
Answer
active transport
The final answer is active transport
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is active transport
More Information
The sodium-potassium pump is essential for maintaining the electrochemical gradients of sodium and potassium ions across the cell membrane. This gradient is crucial for various cellular processes, including nerve impulse transmission and muscle contraction.
Tips
Common mistakes include confusing active transport with passive transport, wihch does not require energy input.
Sources
- Active transport: primary & secondary overview (article) - khanacademy.org
- 2.16: Sodium-Potassium Pump - Biology LibreTexts - bio.libretexts.org
