Final answer:
The internal environment of a cell at rest is more negatively charged compared to the external environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a cell at rest, the internal environment of the cell is more negatively charged compared to the external environment.
This is because when the cell is at rest, ions, such as Na+ and K+, are distributed across the membrane in a very predictable way. The concentration of Na+ outside the cell is 10 times greater than the concentration inside, while the concentration of K+ inside the cell is greater than outside. The cytosol also contains a high concentration of negatively charged ions.
As a result of these ion gradients and the accumulation of negative charges inside the cell, the resting membrane potential is negative, typically between -50mV to -70mV.