in what way does carbon dioxide affect the rate or intensity of breathing?

Answer 1

An increase in CO2 will increase your breathing rate/intensity. Your body is affected greatly by CO2 in the blood and will do everything that it can to expell it. O2 in, CO2 out (for green plants its the other way around). If exposed to to high a concentration of CO2 your breathing will increase (hyperventiltate) till you pass out, and if in a CO2 atmosphere, you will asphyxiate(die).

Answer 2

Carbonic Acid is one of the physiological buffers of the body. Here is the chemistry equation.

CO2 <--> CO2 + H2O <--> H2CO3 <--> HCO3- + H+
CO2 (gas form) combines with H2O in the blood to form carbonic acid. H2CO3 which breaks down into HCO3- and H+.

So carbon dioxide regulates the pH of the blood. Hypo-ventilation (lack of breathing) builds up CO2, resulting in acidosis and hyperventilation (rapid breathing) decreases CO2, resulting in alkalanosis.

So diseases that cause a shift in the pH of blood will result in a change of CO2 that can affect breathing to return the body to a normal state. Such as vomiting that results in a loss of acid causing the blood to be too alkaline by a build up of HCO3- and not enough CO2. Hypo-ventilation will allow the body to conserve CO2 and restore the proper pH.

Hope that makes sense.

Answer 3

You will breath harder and deeper but when the CO2 concentration reaches a critical level you will stop .... full stop !