Electrical changes due to diffusion of physiologically important ions across an uncharged porous partition separating mixed 'electrolyte systems

Abstract

The EMF and current changes, due to diffusion of mixed physiologically important ions (chlorides of Na⁺, K⁺, Ca⁺⁺), have been studied, across Whatman filter paper no. 42 constituting the following concentration cell, reversible with respect to Cl.<br><br>

Ag/AgCl MClx (<i>C</i>₁)+ M Cly (<i>C</i>₂)/ MClx (<i>C</i>₃) AgCl/Ag<br><br>

The concentrations <i>C</i>₁ and <i>C</i>₃ of the electrolytes have been kept constant in each set of experiments, whereas that of M'Cly, <i>C</i>₂, has been varied. An empirical equation for the EMF of this cell has been developed by modifying the Nernst equation. The yielded values are in good agreement with those observed experimentally. The EMF and current generating capacity of these electrolytes both as MCIx and M'Cly follow the order KCl>NaCl> CaCl₂.