Which way do the ions go? A graph-drawing exercise for understanding electrochemical gradients

An electrochemical gradient is a fundamental concept in biology and chemistry. It regulates the movement of ions across cell membranes. This movement is influenced by two factors:
The electrical gradient: The electrical gradient across cell membranes refers to the difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of a cell.  This difference drives the movement of ions towards or away from the cells. For instance, if the inside of the cell is more negatively charged relative to...

Adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, is considered the primary energy source in cells. However, energy can also be stored in the electrochemical gradient of an ion across the plasma membrane, which is determined by two factors: its chemical and electrical gradients.
The chemical gradient relies on differences in the abundance of a substance on the outside versus the inside of a cell and flows from areas of high to low ion concentration. In contrast, the electrical gradient revolves around an...

Voltammograms are current plots as a function of applied potential, offering insights into electrochemical systems. The shape of a voltammogram depends on how the current is measured and whether convection (heat transfer by fluid movement) is present or absent.
Shapes of Voltammograms

In a galvanic cell, the electrical work is done by a redox system on its surroundings as electrons produced by the spontaneous redox reactions are transferred through an external circuit. Alternatively, an external circuit does work on a redox system by imposing a voltage sufficient to drive an otherwise nonspontaneous reaction in a process known as electrolysis. For instance, recharging a battery involves the use of an external power source to drive the spontaneous (discharge) cell reaction in...

Electrogravimetric analysis measures the weight of an analyte deposited electrolytically onto a suitable working electrode. This method involves applying a potential to a pre-weighed electrode submerged in a solution, which results in the desired substance being deposited through reduction at the cathode or oxidation at the anode. The electrode's weight is recorded after deposition, and the difference in weight gives the analyte's weight in the solution.
To test the completeness of the...

Electricity is generated by either electrons or ions flowing through a solution or a conducting medium. This flow of electrons or specifically electrical charge is defined as an electric current. When electrons move through a wire, they generate an electric current. It can be recalled  that in a redox reaction, electrons are lost and gained. In the spontaneous redox reaction of zinc  with copper, when zinc is immersed in a copper ion solution, a transfer of electrons from one substance to...