Medical Definition of Electrochemical potential
1.
Defined as the work done in bringing 1 mole of an ion from a standard state (infinitely separated) to a specified concentration and electrical potential.
Measured in joules/mole. More commonly used to measure the electrochemical potential difference between two points (e.g. Either side of a cell membrane), thus sidestepping the rather abstract concept of a standard state.
If the molecule is uncharged or the electrical potential difference between two points is zero, the electrochemical potential reduces to the chemical potential difference of the species. at equilibrium, the electrochemical potential difference (by definition) is zero, the situation can then be described by the Nernst equation.
This entry appears with permission from the Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology
(11 Mar 2008)
Lexicographical Neighbors of Electrochemical Potential
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