Final answer:
The outside of the cell has a greater positive charge compared to the inside due to the sodium-potassium pump and the accumulation of chloride ions outside the cell.
Step-by-step explanation:
Based on the total concentration of charge on each side of the cell membrane, the outside of the cell has more positive charge than the inside of the cell. This is primarily due to the activity of the sodium-potassium pump, which actively transports three sodium (Na+) ions out of the cell for every two potassium (K+) ions that it brings in. Additionally, chloride ions (Cl−) tend to accumulate outside the cell, further contributing to the positive charge in the extracellular fluid. Inside the cell, there are more anions, such as phosphate ions and negatively charged proteins, contributing to the net negative charge compared to the outside.