Description
Return electrostatic energy change and sign.
Membrane electrical quantities distinguish total from area-specific properties, concentration ratios from activities and single-ion from multi-ion models. Local capacitance, current or potential terms require compatible sign, valence, temperature and unit conventions without themselves validating a biological membrane.
Return electrostatic energy change and sign.
When to use this tool
Use Ion Valence Potential Sign when evaluating the stated membrane, ionic or area-basis term.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter valence, potentialDifference, elementaryCharge. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read energyChange, energySign. Use the output convention below.
Return electrostatic energy change and sign. Require whole signed valence and elementaryCharge > 0; energyChange = valence*charge*potentialDifference, energySign is the product of the two signed factors.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| valence | Signed whole charge count; zero is accepted and produces zero energy change. | Required. Safe integer. |
| potentialDifference | Potential Difference | Required. Finite number. |
| elementaryCharge | Elementary Charge | Required. Finite number; strictly above 0. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| energyChange | Energy Change | Required. Finite number. |
| energySign | Energy Sign | Required. Safe integer. |
{
"input": {
"valence": 2,
"potentialDifference": -0.1,
"elementaryCharge": 1
},
"output": {
"energyChange": -0.2,
"energySign": -1
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- Use potential difference in the intended direction; zero valence is accepted and gives zero, without establishing ion identity or membrane behavior.
- Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
- Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use verified concentrations, activities, geometry and electrical calibration with the appropriate complete membrane/channel model for physiological interpretation.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Ion Channel Conductance Current Gap
Return an ohmic ion-channel current and residual.
- Goldman One Ion Permeability Contribution
Return one Goldman concentration-weight contribution.