Final answer:
The chemical force on a positive ion X with a higher concentration inside the cell than outside will direct the ion to move outward, down the concentration gradient. The strength of this force is influenced by the concentration difference, membrane permeability, and other factors. Ions enter the cell via channels or transport mechanisms, affecting the cell's membrane potential.
Step-by-step explanation:
If X is a positive ion with inside concentration of 1 M and outside concentration of 0.1 M, the direction of the chemical force due to this concentration gradient will be from inside the cell to outside the cell, down the concentration gradient. This happens because particles naturally move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration to reach equilibrium.
The strength of this force can be described qualitatively as the 'driving force' for diffusion. It is determined by the difference in concentration across the membrane, which in this case is quite substantial (tenfold difference). However, quantifying this force requires consideration of additional factors such as the membrane permeability and temperature, and is guided by laws such as Fick's law of diffusion.
These ions can get into the cell via various mechanisms like diffusion through channels, carrier proteins, or even by active transport processes that require energy. As ions flow into or out of a neuron, for instance, they change the relative charge inside compared to outside, impacting the neuron’s membrane potential and affecting nerve impulse transmission. In the context of neurons, positive ions usually flow into the neuron, making the inside less negative relative to the outside, if there are channels open to allow their passage.