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 in this reaction if the blood becomes more acidic, and what is the physiological response?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If the blood becomes more acidic, the reaction will be driven toward the right, which will result in more CO₂ being produced. To maintain the acid-base balance, the body will increase the rate of exhalation to remove the excess CO2 in the form of CO₂. This helps to decrease the acidity of the blood and return it to a more neutral pH.

Consider the Following Chemical Equation Which Depicts the Mechanism by Which