If you experimentally increase the concentration of Na+ outside a cell while maintaining other ion concentrations as they were, what would happen to the cell's membrane potential?
A) The membrane potential would become more negative.
B) The membrane potential would become less negative.
C) The membrane potential would be unaffected.
D) The membrane potential would become positive.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Increasing the concentration of Na+ outside the cell would create a larger concentration gradient for Na+ to move into the cell. This would make the inside of the cell less negative compared to when the Na+ concentration outside the cell was lower, thus making the membrane potential less negative.

If You Experimentally Increase the Concentration of Na+ Outside a Cell