Explain why living cells need to maintain a steady state rat

Explain why living cells need to maintain a \"steady state rather than chemical equilibrium

Solution

Answer:

A system in a steady state has a higher level of energy than its surroundings. It remains constant over time, but that constant state requires continual work.

At chemical equilibrium the system is maintained in a low free energy state that is no different from that of its surroundings. It requires no energy to maintain. Systems in equilibrium are often inorganic, such as the chemicals in a beaker after a reaction has proceeded to completion.

A cell needs to be steady state with constant requirement of energy to do work. Since constant ionic concentrations are maintained irrespective of the surrounding the cell has to spend energy in pumping ions across the membrane to maintain steady state. This is the reason why a cell cannot be at a state of equilibria.

For example, the K+ ion concentration in cells is maintained by active transport of ions up electrochemical gradients into the cell.