Question

How does the carbonic acid/bicarbonate buffer system respond to

a. excersise casuing

b. lung impairment causing acidosis

c. loss of bicarbonate due to diahrrea

Answer 1

Action of H2CO3/HCO3- buffer system during,

a. excersise causing : severe excersise caused formation of lactic acid or H+ in the system. This is balanced by the buffer reaction,

H+ + HCO3- <==> H2CO3

So more of H2CO3 is formed, until the system equilibrium reaches to initial condition.

b. lung impairment causing acidosis : Acidosis is higher acid content or more H+ in th system. In order to overcome this more of H2CO3 is formed by the reaction,

HCO3- + H+ <==> H2CO3

reaction goes in forwards direction until equilibrium is reestablished.

c. loss of bicarbonate due to diahrrea : In this condition lower amount of HCO3- in present, which is balanced by the buffer system by more dissociation as in,

H2CO3 <==> H+ + HCO3-

the reaction proceeds in forward direction until equilibrium is reestablished.