A series of carbonic acid or carbonate buffers regulate pH in blood within the human body. The kidneys and the lungs work together to help maintain a blood pH of 7.4 by affecting the components of the buffers in the blood. What conjugate acid/base pair is the main component in the buffer? Write out the chemical reaction that the conjugate pair undergoes in water. What is the ratio of the acid to the base? What is the ideal pH range for this buffer?

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Chapter17: Equilibrium
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Problem 7CR: 7. Describe a buffered solution. Give three examples of buffered solutions. For each of your...
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A series of carbonic acid or carbonate buffers regulate pH in blood within the human body. The kidneys and the lungs work together to help maintain a blood pH of 7.4 by affecting the components of the buffers in the blood.

  1. What conjugate acid/base pair is the main component in the buffer? Write out the chemical reaction that the conjugate pair undergoes in water.
  2. What is the ratio of the acid to the base?
  3. What is the ideal pH range for this buffer?
  4. Is the pH of blood within the ideal range of the buffer? If it is not, what is the physiological reason that the body would have for still using a carbonate buffer as opposed to another conjugate pair?
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