Consider the following chemical equation which depicts the mechanism by which humans maintain an acid-base balance in the blood: H⁺ + HCO₃^- ↔ H₂CO₃ ↔ H₂0 + CO₂
What happens if the carbon dioxide on the right is not removed from the blood via the lungs?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presence of carbon dioxide on the right side of the equation drives the reaction to shift towards the left, resulting in the formation of hydrogen ions and bicarbonate ions. If carbon dioxide is not removed via the lungs, it will accumulate in the blood and push the reaction to the right, resulting in a decrease in the concentration of hydrogen ions and an increase in the concentration of bicarbonate ions. This imbalance would cause the blood to become more acidic.

Consider the Following Chemical Equation Which Depicts the Mechanism by Which