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 pKa of 3.86.

A solution containing a mixture of lactic acid and lactate was found to have a pH of 4.10. Calculate the ratio of the lactate concentration to the lactic acid concentration in this solution.

Explanation / Answer

Pka= 3.86

PH= 4.10

PH= Pka + log[Lactate]/[Lactic acid]

4.10 = 3.86 + log[Lactate]/[Lactic acid]

log[Lactate]/[Lactic acid] = 4.10-3.86

log[Lactate]/[Lactic acid] = 0.24

[Lactate]/[Lactic acid] = 10^0.24

[Lactate]/[Lactic acid] = 1.738

The ratio between Lactate and lactic acid

Lactate : Lactic acid= 1.74 :1

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