Question

A person suffering from anxiety begins breathing rapidly and as a result suffers alkalosis, an increase in blood pH.

(a) Using Equation 17.10, explain how rapid breathing can cause the pH of blood to increase.

(b) One cure for this problem is breathing in a paper bag. Why does this procedure lower blood pH?

Answer 1

(a)

Rapid breathing can cause pH of the blood to increase according to the equation-

H+(aq) + HCO3-(aq) → H2CO3(aq) → H2O(l) + CO2(g)

 

Rapid breathing that is removal of CO2 via exhalation shifts the equilibrium to the right consuming more of H+ ion. As the concentration of H+ decreases, pHof blood increases above 7.45 to cause alkalosis.

 

(b)

If the person breathes in the paper bag the concentration of CO2 increases in the paper bag, thus concentration of CO2 rises in the body, thus equilibrium shifts to the left which forms more of H+ ion. Hence the pH of the blood decreases.

(a)

Rapid breathing can cause pH of the blood to increase according to the equation-

H+(aq) + HCO3-(aq) → H2CO3(aq) → H2O(l) + CO2(g)