In: Chemistry
Human blood contains a buffering system. What are the key molecules in this buffer, and why is it necessary?
Carbonic Acid (H2CO3) is the conjugate acid to the primary base, bicarbonate (HCO3-) in the blood. Bicarbonate (HCO3-), which is usually aggregated in the blood as sodium bicarbonate.
Inorder to keep the acid/base balance in the blood, the reaction responsible for acid/base balance in the blood is mediated in both directions by the enzyme carbonic anhydrase.
This reaction is represented as:
H2O + CO2 H2CO3
HCO3-
+ H+ (bicarbarbonate is more stable in blood than
carbonic acid, so this is the prevalent form). This buffer system
is important for maintaining the blood pH around 7.4. pH at 7.4 is
necessary for the regulation of the partial pressure of oxygen in
the blood.
The lower the pH (acidosis), there is a weaker association between hemoglobin (specifically the iron in the porphyrin ring of the heme) and oxygen. Thereby blood distributes oxygen uniformly throughout the entire body.