During exercise when the body lacks an adequate supply of oxygen to support ener

Question

During exercise when the body lacks an adequate supply of oxygen to support energy production, the pyruvate that is produced from the breakdown of glucose is converted into lactate. High lactate levels can lead to acidity in the muscle cells as some of the lactate hydrolyzes to lactic acid. The dissociation of lactic acid to lactate is shown in the reaction below. Lactic acid has a pK_a of 3.86. A solution containing a mixture of lactic acid and lactate was found to have a pH of 4.17. Calculate the ratio of the lactate concentration to the lactic acid concentration in this solution. [lactate]/[lactic acid] =

Explanation / Answer

we know that

pH = pKa + log [lactate / lactic acid ]

so

log [lactate / lactic acid ] = pH - pKa

given

pH = 4.17

pKa = 3.86

so

log [lactate / lactic acid ] = 4.17 - 3.86 = 0.31

[lactate / lactic acid ] = 10^0.31

[lactate / lactic acid ] = 2.04174

so

the ratio of lactate to lactic acid concentration is 2.04174

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