THE ACCUMULATION OF ELECTROLYTES : VIII. THE ACCUMULATION OF KCl IN MODELS

Models are described in which KCl enters until its chemical potential becomes much greater inside than outside. The energy needed to accomplish this comes from the chemical reactions occurring in the system and the continual supply of certain materials. An important factor is the maintenance of a lower pH value inside by means of CO(2). This may be analogous to what happens in some living cells. The concentration of K(+) becomes higher inside, as happens in many living cells, but the concentration of Cl(-) does not and in this respect the model differs from many living cells. As in Valonia, potassium tends to go out as KCl when the ionic activity product (K)(Cl) is greater inside but at the same time it tends to enter as KOH since the activity product (K)(OH) is greater outside. The net result is entrance of potassium presumably because the latter process is the more rapid.