Which of these substances could be driven across a membrane by the resting membrane potential?

The resting membrane potential (RMP) refers to the electrical potential difference across the cell membrane when a neuron is not actively sending signals. The RMP is typically negative inside the cell compared to the extracellular fluid.

Ions that could be driven across a membrane by the resting membrane potential include:

1. Potassium ions (K+): The resting membrane potential is primarily influenced by the permeability of the cell membrane to potassium ions. Since the RMP is negative inside the cell, K+ ions, which are positively charged, tend to move out of the cell, down their concentration gradient.
2. Chloride ions (Cl-): Depending on the specific conditions and the permeability of the membrane, chloride ions can also be influenced by the resting membrane potential. The direction of chloride ion movement would depend on the specific circumstances.

It's important to note that the resting membrane potential primarily results from the selective permeability of the cell membrane to certain ions, with potassium playing a key role. Other ions, such as sodium (Na+) and calcium (Ca2+), also contribute to membrane potential but to a lesser extent during the resting state.