Final answer:
Ions like Cl⁻ or HCO₃⁻ travel through chloride channels. These are specific to certain ions and crucial for maintaining the electrical gradient and conducting physiological processes such as muscle contractions and nerve impulses.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ions like Cl⁻ or HCO₃⁻ travel through chloride channels. These ion channels are specific structures within the cell membrane that allow the selective passage of certain ions, in this case, negatively charged ions like chloride and bicarbonate across the cell membrane. The correct option from the given list is c) Chloride. Ion channels play a crucial role in cell functions and are involved in establishing and controlling the electrical gradient across the cell membrane and the flow of ions across this barrier.
It’s important to remember that substances such as sodium (Na⁺), potassium (K⁺), and chloride (Cl⁻), are electrolytes and they are significant in the distribution and retention of body water. In the body fluids, sodium and potassium ions are primarily found in the extracellular fluid (ECF), while potassium ions are more concentrated inside cells. Channels for these ions, whether always open or gated, are essential for many physiological processes including muscle contraction and nerve impulse transmission.