Question

3. The pH in your cells is decreasing. Cells have buffers to minimize changes in pH. Briefly explain what the buffer would do in this situation with respect to the H+ concentration in your cells.

Answer 1

Answer:

Intracellular pH is slightly lower than the pH of the blood plasma. This is due to the cellular metabolism that produces carbonic acid which ionizes to form H+ ion leading to a decrease in pH as compared to plasma. Normal pH of the body fluids is tightly regulated around 7.40.

An increase in pH will cause Alkalosis (pH > 7.45) and a decrease in pH will cause acidosis (pH < 7.35).

Body fluids contains intrinsic buffer systems that act to resist any change in the H+ ion concentration.Bicarbonate buffer acts as the body's primary buffer system. Decrease in pH can cause acidosis which could be deterimental to health. Cells maintain or regulate the pH of the blood through a process called as homeostasis.

In acidosis the kidneys will try to excrete H+ and retain HCO3- to maintain the normal pH levels.