Carbonic Acid (H2CO3) Serves as a Buffer in Human Blood

question 47

Multiple Choice

Carbonic acid (H2CO3) serves as a buffer in human blood. Carbonic acid is a weak acid that dissociates into a bicarbonate ion (HCO3-) and a hydrogen ion (H+) . Thus,
H2CO3 ↔ HCO3- + H+
A decrease in blood pH would result in

• A) a decrease in the concentration of H2CO3 and an increase in the concentration of HCO3-.
• B) a decrease in the concentrations of H2CO3 and HCO3-.
• C) an increase in the concentration of H2CO3 and a decrease in the concentration of HCO3-.
• D) an increase in the concentrations of H2CO3 and HCO3-.
• E) an increase in the concentrations of H2CO3, HCO3-, and OH-.

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Definitions:

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