Carbonate (H2CO3/HCO3-) buffers are important in regulating the pH of blood at 7.40. Note that the Ka for H2CO3 is 4.3 x 10-7. When a person exercises, muscle contractions produce lactic acid. Moderate increases in lactic acid can be handled by the blood buffers without decreasing the pH of blood. However, excessive amounts of lactic acid can overload the blood buffer system, resulting in a condition called acidosis if the blood pH falls to 7.35 or lower. Suppose a patient’s normal blood sample contains [H2CO3] = 0.0015 M and [HCO3-] = 0.0129 M. If this patient exercises enough to produce 0.0010 mole of H3O+ per 1 L of blood due to production of lactic acid, would they be diagnosed with acidosis?
Carbonate (H2CO3/HCO3-) buffers are important in regulating the pH of blood at 7.40.
Note that the Ka for H2CO3 is 4.3 x 10-7.
When a person exercises, muscle contractions produce lactic acid. Moderate increases in lactic acid can be handled by the blood buffers without decreasing the pH of blood. However, excessive amounts of lactic acid can overload the blood buffer system, resulting in a condition called acidosis if the blood pH falls to 7.35 or lower.
Suppose a patient’s normal blood sample contains [H2CO3] = 0.0015 M and [HCO3-] = 0.0129 M. If this patient exercises enough to produce 0.0010 mole of H3O+ per 1 L of blood due to production of lactic acid, would they be diagnosed with acidosis?
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