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?

Chemistry
10th Edition
ISBN:9781305957404
Author:Steven S. Zumdahl, Susan A. Zumdahl, Donald J. DeCoste
Publisher:Steven S. Zumdahl, Susan A. Zumdahl, Donald J. DeCoste
Chapter1: Chemical Foundations
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1RQ: Define and explain the differences between the following terms. a. law and theory b. theory and...
icon
Related questions
Question

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?

Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 3 steps

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Acid-Base Titrations
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, chemistry and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
Recommended textbooks for you
Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry
ISBN:
9781305957404
Author:
Steven S. Zumdahl, Susan A. Zumdahl, Donald J. DeCoste
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry
ISBN:
9781259911156
Author:
Raymond Chang Dr., Jason Overby Professor
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education
Principles of Instrumental Analysis
Principles of Instrumental Analysis
Chemistry
ISBN:
9781305577213
Author:
Douglas A. Skoog, F. James Holler, Stanley R. Crouch
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Organic Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Chemistry
ISBN:
9780078021558
Author:
Janice Gorzynski Smith Dr.
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education
Chemistry: Principles and Reactions
Chemistry: Principles and Reactions
Chemistry
ISBN:
9781305079373
Author:
William L. Masterton, Cecile N. Hurley
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Elementary Principles of Chemical Processes, Bind…
Elementary Principles of Chemical Processes, Bind…
Chemistry
ISBN:
9781118431221
Author:
Richard M. Felder, Ronald W. Rousseau, Lisa G. Bullard
Publisher:
WILEY