Final answer:
The sodium-potassium pump moves sodium ions out of cells and potassium ions into cells, creating an electrical gradient called resting potential.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a neuron is not actively transmitting a nerve impulse, it is in a resting state. During this state, the sodium-potassium pump maintains a difference in charge across the cell membrane of the neuron.
The sodium-potassium pump moves sodium ions out of cells and potassium ions into cells, using energy from ATP and carrier proteins in the cell membrane. This process creates an electrical gradient across the membrane, known as resting potential.