Unit 2 · 2.8 — Mechanisms of Transport [cite: 9, 28]

Everything to learn here

• Concept: The sodium-potassium pump ($Na^+/K^+$ pump) utilizes ATP to generate a steep electrochemical gradient by moving 3 $Na^+$ out of the cell and 2 $K^+$ into the cell [cite: 13].
• Vocabulary: Electrochemical Gradient — the combined physical force of a chemical concentration gradient and an electrical charge gradient driving ion movement [cite: 13].
• Vocabulary: Secondary Active Transport (Cotransport) — using the potential energy stored in an existing electrochemical gradient (established by primary active transport) to drive the active transport of other solutes [cite: 13].
• Concept: Explain how ATP powers membrane proteins to move solutes against gradients and maintain electrochemical potentials.

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