Final answer:
Cells generally pull in negatively charged solutes due to the net negative charge inside the cell, maintained by the sodium-potassium pump and other mechanisms. The movement of solutes like sodium ions requires facilitated diffusion through membrane proteins.
Step-by-step explanation:
Considering all other factors equal, cells tend to pull in negatively charged solutes. This is because the interior of a cell is typically negatively charged due to the activity of transport systems like the sodium-potassium pump. The sodium-potassium pump works by expelling more cations than are taken in, resulting in a net negative charge inside the cell. Osmotic potential, also known as solute potential, is affected by the concentration of solutes within a cell. When solutes are added to a cell, the solute potential decreases, leading to water being drawn into the cell to balance the concentration of solutes, which can be described by the osmotic potential.
However, the actual movement of solutes into the cell depends on other factors as well, such as whether the solute is a strong electrolyte that dissociates into ions when dissolved. For instance, sodium ions (Na+) require membrane proteins to facilitate their movement from outside to inside the cell. This process is known as facilitated diffusion and does not require energy from the cell, as it moves solutes along their concentration gradient.