Chapter 14, Problem 70QP

The first-order rate constant for the dehydration of carbonic acid:

${\text{H}}_{\text{2}}{\text{CO}}_{\text{3}}\to {\text{ CO}}_{\text{2}}{\text{ + H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}$

is about $\text{1 }\times {\text{ 10}}^{\text{2}}{\text{ s}}^{\text{-1}}\text{.}$ In view of this rather high rate constant, explain why it is necessary to have the enzyme carbonic anhydrase to enhance the rate of dehydration in the lungs.