Final answer:
The hydrolysis of one ATP molecule can move approximately 3.48 sodium ions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sodium-potassium pump (Na+ | K+ pump) moves sodium and potassium ions across the cell membrane using ATP. Each cycle of the pump moves three sodium ions out of the cell and brings two potassium ions into the cell. The hydrolysis of one ATP molecule releases 7.3 kcal/mol of free energy, and it takes 2.1 kcal/mol of free energy to move one sodium ion across the membrane.
To calculate how many sodium ions could be moved by the hydrolysis of one ATP molecule, we can use the equation:
Sodium ions moved = (Total free energy released by ATP hydrolysis) / (Energy required to move one sodium ion)
Substituting the values:
Sodium ions moved = (7.3 kcal/mol) / (2.1 kcal/mol) = 3.48
Therefore, the hydrolysis of one ATP molecule can move approximately 3.48 sodium ions.