The normal pH of blood is 7.40 ± 0.05 and is controlled in part by the H₂CO₃/HCO⁻₃ buffer system.(a) Assuming that the Kₐ value for carbonic acid at 25°C applies to blood, what is the [H₂CO₃] / [HCO⁻₃] ratio in normal blood?



Answer :

The [H₂CO₃] / [HCO⁻₃] ratio in normal blood is 20

Steps

According to Henderson-Hasselbulch equation:

pH = pKa + Log{[H₂CO₃] / [HCO⁻₃]}

7.4 = 6.1 + Log{[H₂CO₃] / [HCO⁻₃]}

Log{[H₂CO₃] / [HCO⁻₃]} = 7.4 - 6.1

1.3=Log{[H₂CO₃] / [HCO⁻₃]}

[H₂CO₃] / [HCO⁻₃] =20

The [H₂CO₃] / [HCO⁻₃] ratio in normal blood is 20

How are buffers defined?

"A buffer is an aqueous solution that prevents pH changes when an acid or base is added." Additionally, a buffer's pH is not greatly altered by the addition of water or by allowing water to evaporate from a buffer. Fundamentally, buffers are made up of a pair of weak acids and their conjugate bases or a pair of weak bases and their conjugate acids.

How does the buffer function?

According to our definition, a buffer is a conjugate acid-base mixture that can withstand pH shifts when small amounts of strong acids or bases are introduced.

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