Why is blood more acidic when it picks up Carbon Dioxide?
Rather simple question, can't elaborate much more than that.
Rather simple question, can't elaborate much more than that.
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Favorite Answer
Well ... Since it's a simple question (which is the way i like them btw) here's your simple answer.
Co2 is an acidic gas so to speak. Why? Because it can dissolve in water and react with it. Creating a weak aced called carbonic acid H2CO3. And since it's a weak acid it dissociated right after it's formation. The trick? It doesn't dissociate into it's components. It dissociate into bicarbonate HCO3 and hydrogen ions H which markdly lower the pH (increasing the blood acidity) i really hope i made sens.
Xopmak
Carbon dioxide (CO2) dissociates in water (plasma) to become a weak carbonic acid (H2CO3). Carbonic acid is acidic as it has the ability to donate protons (H+).