Question

hen placed in an aqueous solution, dissociates into a bicarbonate ion (HCO3-) and a hydrogen ion (H ), as noted below. If the pH of blood drops, one would expect _____. One of the buffers that contribute to pH stability in human blood is carbonic acid (H2CO3). Carbonic acid is a weak acid that, when placed in an aqueous solution, dissociates into a bicarbonate ion (HCO3-) and a hydrogen ion (H ), as noted below. If the pH of blood drops, one would expect _____. the HCO3- to act as a base and remove excess H by the formation of H2CO3 the concentration of bicarbonate ions (HCO3-) to increase the HCO3- to act as an acid and remove excess H by the formation of H2CO3 a decrease in the concentration of H2CO3 and an increase in the concentration of HCO3-

Answer 1

Answer: the HCO3- to act as a base and remove excess H by the formation of H2CO3

Explanation:

H2CO3 in an aqueous solution is a buffer. This means the reaction is the following:

H2CO3 ------ HCO3- + H+

Then, the HCO3- that was formed acts as a base (absorbing a proton) like this

HCO3- + H+ ------- H2CO3

If there was an increase in H+, there would be an increase in the second reaction in an effort to neutralize that acid, thus making the H2CO3 more concentrated