Which of the following contributes to chemical disequilibrium created by the sodium-potassium pump?

The choice referring to sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) concentration gradients is correct because it highlights the fundamental role that these gradients play in maintaining chemical disequilibrium across the cell membrane. The sodium-potassium pump actively transports three sodium ions out of the cell and two potassium ions into the cell. This process creates and maintains distinct concentration gradients for both ions: high concentrations of potassium inside the cell and high concentrations of sodium outside the cell.

These gradients are essential for numerous physiological functions, including the generation of action potentials in neurons and muscle cells, regulation of cell volume, and overall homeostasis. By creating a situation where Na+ is more concentrated outside the cell and K+ is more concentrated inside, the pump establishes a chemical disequilibrium that is crucial for cellular activity.

The other options do not capture the essence of chemical disequilibrium in the same way. The influx of Na+ and the efflux of K+, while related to the pump's action, are not the primary contributors to the overall disequilibrium; rather, they are the mechanisms by which it is maintained. High ATP consumption represents the energy cost of maintaining this disequilibrium, but it is the concentration gradients of Na+ and K+ themselves that define the chemical dise