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Biology questions

This question has been giving me a headache
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(edited 8 years ago)
Reply 1
Avatar for MattB_
MattB_
12
Don't take my word for it but I would imagine that the carbon dioxide reacts with the water in tissues to form a weak carbonic acid which then dissociates into hydrogen carbonate ions and hydrogen ions
Reply 2
Avatar for Dinaa
Dinaa
17
Carbon dioxide + water --> H2CO3 (carbonic acid)

Carbonic acid then disassociates into H+ ions and HCO3-.

Most of the Carbon dioxide is transported in the cytoplasm of the red blood cells as hydrogencarbonate ions. In the body tissues, there is a high concentration of CO2 and Carbonic anhydrase to form carbonic acid. Which then disassociates.
Reply 3
Avatar for benion
benion
2
This correct. 93% of blood CO2 is in the form of HCO3- and a small amount is combined with Hb as carboxyhaemoglobin.
The existence of HCO3- in the blood is very important as it functions as a buffer which stabilises blood pH.
The thing about 2,3 DPG however is an allosteric effect which favours O2 unloading at lower pO2.

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