During respiration , carbon dioxide produced combines with water in red blood cell . I know that hydrogen ions and hydrogencarbonate ions are formed . But will the hydrogen ions affect the pH value of red blood cells ?
2007-03-12 00:34:26 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Of course. CO2 dissolves in water to give carbonic acid (H2CO3) which is a weak acid and dissociates according to this equation:
H2O + CO2 ==> H+ + HCO3-
Therefore the pH of the venous blood (rich in CO2) is more acidic than the one rich in oxygen. However, buffer mechanisms exist to bring back the pH to 7.4, as variations further than the range 6.9-7.9 would be very bad for the system.
Have you ever seen anyone hyperventilating ? I do sometimes, when I panic. Well, people give away a lot of CO2 by doing so, and they can bring themselves to fainting because of the change in the pH of the blood.
2007-03-12 05:22:36 · answer #1 · answered by Jesus is my Savior 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, CO2 not only increases the acidity of the RBCs but of the blood as well. The more CO2, the more acidic the blood is and the brain has sensing mechanisms for this that increases respiratory drive. This increases minute ventilation, blows off excess CO2 and keeps the blood pH at 7.4.
2007-03-12 03:34:23 · answer #2 · answered by misoma5 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would if red blood cells were not so well buffered, but under physiological conditions, pH is relatively invariant within the cell.
2007-03-12 01:08:29 · answer #3 · answered by Biznachos 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
very much! hehehehe....search for the answer in biochem books
2007-03-12 00:49:34 · answer #4 · answered by plutoeffesus 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yup, i forgot what's the cycle on this respiration. ^_^
you can do it, good luck!
2007-03-12 00:57:39 · answer #5 · answered by karenM. ^_^ 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋