Final answer:
The sodium-potassium pump actively transports sodium ions (Na+) out of the cell and potassium ions (K+) into the cell against their concentration gradients, using energy from ATP. Therefore, the correct option is c.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks about the ions that the sodium-potassium pump transports from a low to high concentration. The correct answer to the question "What ions does this carrier protein pump from low to high concentration?" is C. Sodium & potassium. This active transport mechanism uses ATP to move three sodium ions (Na+) out of the cell and two potassium ions (K+) into the cell.
The active transport pump known as the sodium-potassium pump facilitates the movement of ions against their concentration gradients. This process is aided by carrier proteins that change their shape when they bind with these ions, enabled by the energy released from ATP. Subsequently, these ions can be returned to their original positions by facilitated diffusion, completing the cycle of ion balance maintenance within the cell.