That is, why does an increase in carbon dioxide make blood more acidic?
2007-02-13 09:40:48 · 6 answers · asked by Clean Independent Energy 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
CO2 at high concentration can combine with water to become H2CO3(carbonic acid). H2CO3 then releases H+ & HCO3-(bicarbonate). That H+ is what causes acidic condition.
2007-02-13 09:43:32 · answer #1 · answered by yungr01 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Higher levels of CO2 lead to an immediate drop in blood and extracellular fluid pH levels through the formation of carbonic acid, thus obliging the hemoglobin to more readily distribute its oxygen to meet local metabolic requirements.
2007-02-13 17:46:24 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whenever CO2 comes into contact with H2O, it tends to form H2CO3, which is carbonic acid.
2007-02-13 17:44:47 · answer #3 · answered by mrsocialist 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When it dissolves in the blood it become carbonic acid H2CO3.
2007-02-13 17:43:57 · answer #4 · answered by feanor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds like symptom of kidney disease. However, HCO3- levels are also decreased in the presence of organic acids (ketone bodies in diabetic ketoacidosis) because HCO3- is used to neutralize the acids.
2007-02-13 17:50:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
probably has something to do with carbonic acid
2007-02-13 17:43:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋