Concentration of Carbonic Acid and ImportanceCarbonic acid is in all of us and plays an important role in keeping the pH level of our bodies neutral. Carbonic acid plays a crucial role in our everyday lives as it is in our blood, the making of carbonated drinks, helps with the creation of natural caves and is in the ocean.
The bicarbonate buffer system is an acid base homeostatic mechanism involving the balance of carbonic acid, bicarbonate ion and carbon dioxide in order to maintain a neutral pH in the the blood. As with any buffer system, the pH is balanced by the presence of both a weak acid H2CO3 and conjugate base HCO3-. In tissue, cellular respiration produces carbon dioxide as a waste product. The bicarbonate ion present in the blood plasma is transported to the lungs, where it is dehydrated back into carbon dioxide and released during exhalation. These hydration and dehydration conversions of CO2 and H2CO3, which are normally very slow, are facilitated by carbonic anhydrous in both the blood and duodenum. While in the blood, bicarbonate ion serves to neutralize acid introduced to the blood through other metabolic processes likewise, any bases are neutralized by carbonic acid. This process is important in maintaining health for all humans to balance our pH levels. It is important to keep the concentration of H2CO3 and HCO3- because if theres changes or is one is to high or to low it can effect the entire body in seconds. The most common symptoms are increased/decreased breathing. |
In this figure Carbon dioxide, a by-product of cellular respiration, is dissolved in the blood, where it is taken up by red blood cells and converted to carbonic acid by carbonic anhydrous. Most of the carbonic acid then dissociates to bicarbonate and hydrogen ions.
Video Explaining Buffers
http://www.mhhe.com/physsci/chemistry/essentialchemistry/flash/buffer12.swf |