Final answer:
Oxygen loading in the lungs decreases hemoglobin's affinity for H+, promoting gas exchange by allowing H+ to combine with HCO3- to form CO2, which can then diffuse out of the blood and be exhaled.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question relates to how oxygen loading in the lungs affects hemoglobin's affinity for hydrogen ions (H+) and promotes gas exchange in the alveoli. The decrease in hemoglobin's affinity for oxygen due to oxygen loading causes H+ to be released. In the lungs, the released H+ combines with bicarbonate ions (HCO3-) to form carbonic acid. With the help of the enzyme carbonic anhydrase, carbonic acid quickly dissociates into carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). This free CO2 can then diffuse out of the blood and be exhaled. This process is crucial as it allows for efficient gas exchange in the alveoli and maintains the blood's pH balance.
The correct answer to the multiple-choice question is: the released H+ combines with HCO3- to form free CO2, which can diffuse out of the blood. This step is integral in the bicarbonate buffer system, a critical component of the body's ability to transport CO2 from tissues to the lungs and to manage blood pH levels.