Question

Freediving is an activity in which a person dives, sometimes to great depth, without the use of scuba gear. The diver must hod his or her breath for the duration of the dive. (the record depth with no equipment such as diving fins, is 101m; the offical record time is over 11 minutes). historically freediving has been used by pearl divers and sponge divers.

some freedivers hyperventilate (breathe rapidly and deeply) before diving. hyperventilation can change the concentration of CO2 in the blood and may increase the length of time that a person feels like he/she can hold his/her breath.



how does hyperventilation affect blood pH?



a.) it increases CO2 and decreases H+ in the blood, increasing pH

b.) it decreases CO2 and increases H+ in the blood, increasing pH

c.) it increases CO2 and H+ in the blood, decreasig pH

d.) it decreases CO2 and H+ in the blood, increasing pH

Answer 1

d.) It decreases CO2 and H+ in the blood, increasing pH

Step-by-step explanation:

Carbon dioxide is eliminated from the body as a gas in exhaled air, during hyperventilation the volume of air breathed in and our increased above the normal, causing more
`CO_(2)` to exit the body affecting the equilibrium between bicarbonate ion and carbon dioxide:

`CO_(2)+H_(2)O <- H_(2)CO_(3) <- H^(+)+HCO_(3)`

This change in the equilibrium (to the left) results in a pH rising because of the loss of H+.

I hope you find this information useful! Good luck!