Final answer:
The Bohr effect describes how the pH level of blood affects hemoglobin's oxygen affinity, with lower pH reducing affinity and promoting oxygen dissociation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Bohr effect describes the effect of pH on the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen. When the pH level of blood drops, becoming more acidic, it leads to a decrease in the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen. This causes oxygen to dissociate more readily from hemoglobin. Conversely, a higher or more basic pH leads to the inhibition of oxygen dissociation from hemoglobin. The presence of higher amounts of carbon dioxide in the blood increases hydrogen ion concentration and decreases pH, which, in turn, reduces hemoglobin's oxygen affinity. This physiological mechanism ensures that more oxygen is released in tissues with higher carbon dioxide concentrations and lower pH, such as working muscles that produce lactic acid and carbon dioxide as metabolic byproducts.