Q. 10.61 - An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

Question

Someone with kidney failure excretes urine with large amounts of${\mathrm{HCO}}_3^{-}$. How would this loss of ${\mathrm{HCO}}_3^{-}$affect the $\mathrm{pH}$ of the blood plasma?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

When ${{\mathrm{HCO}}_3}^{-}$ excreted in urine, it rises to a higher level.

So the blood pressure  of $\mathrm{pH}$ drops.

Step - 1 Introduction

• Text Carbonic acid interacts with water to produce the hydronium ion and ${\mathrm{HCO}}_3^{-}$ text.
• The following is the reaction:

         ${\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{CO}}_3+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)\rightleftarrows {\mathrm{HCO}}_3^{-}+{\mathrm{H}}_3{\mathrm{O}}^{+}$

Step - 2 Explanation

• When more ${\mathrm{HCO}}_3^{-}$ is excreted by urine, the equilibrium moves to a higher ${\mathrm{H}}_3{\mathrm{O}}^{+}$.
• The blood $\mathrm{pH}$ drops as a result of this.