instructo r creates a forum, they have the option of allowing you to start threa

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instructo r creates a forum, they have the option of allowing you to start threads. More Help ndicates a required field. M DESCRIPTION mplete your required discussion prompt: 1. Describe the blood hydrogen carbonate buffer system. What happens when blood acidity rises? Show the equation 2. What happens when the blood becomes more alkaline? Show the equation. 3. Distinguish between strong and weak acid. List some clinic al uses of these acids and write equations for their dissociation in water 4. Did you find any of these to be a challenge? Why or why not? S SAGE Subject Message TT T Arial

Explanation / Answer

Ans) Bicarbonate-buffer system is a haemostatic buffer system which is responsible for the balance of H2CO3, HCO3-, CO2. in order to maintain the pH of the blood. The enzyme Carbonic anhydrase is a responsible for the formation of H2CO3 from water (H2O) and CO2 which in turn rapidly dissolve into HCO3- and H+. The reaction is as follows.

                   CO2 + H3O = H2CO3 = H+ + CO3-

A buffer system is responsible to resist a small change the pH of the solution when a s mall amount of acid or base is added to the solution.

Physiological buffers like blood does the same thing by maintaining the pH of the blood from alkalosis and acidosis and thus maintain the physiological pH of the blood by regulation the cations and anions present in the blood. Blood pH is acidemia (pH < 7.35) and alkalemia (pH > 7.45).

Ans) If the pH of the blood is below 7.35 then it is called acidosis. It is life threatening when the pH is lowered than 7.25. Acidosis leads to CNS depression and coma. Death occur when pH value is less than 7.0

Ans) The equation

                                             H+ + CO3- = H2CO3 = CO2 + H3O

Ans) When the pH is more than 7.45, it is called alkalosis. It is dangerous if the pH is increased above 7.55. Alkalosis induces neuromuscular hyperexcitability and tetany. Death occurs if the pH is above 7.6.

Ans) The extent of dissociation decides whether an acid is strong or weak. Strong acid dissociate completely in solution while weak acid ionizes incompletely.

HCl = H+ + Cl- (complete dissociation) occurs

H2CO3 = H+ + CO3- (partial dissociation)

Thus in a solution of HCl, almost all the molecules dissociated and exist as H+ and Cl- . Hence the concentration of H+ is very high in the solution and it is a strong acid. But in case of weak acid such as acetic acid it will ionizes slowly. So the number of acid molecule existing in the ionized state is much less or may be 50%.

HCl (aq) + H2O (aq)= H3O+ (aq)+ Cl- (aq)

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