Final answer:
The question likely contains a typo, referring to 'He' ions instead of 'H+' ions. Incomplete oxidation in biological systems leads to the production of hydrogen ions due to the high electronegativity of oxygen compared to hydrogen. Hence, the correct physiological source of ions from incomplete oxidation is hydrogen ions (H+), not helium.
Step-by-step explanation:
The physiological source of He ions mentioned in the question is likely to be a typo, as He stands for helium, which is not a product of incomplete oxidation in biological systems. Instead, the question likely refers to hydrogen ions (H+).
Incomplete oxidation typically results in the production of hydrogen ions, not helium. This is due to oxygen being more electronegative than hydrogen, generating a partial negative charge near the oxygen atoms in a molecule of water (H2O), and a partial positive charge on the hydrogen atoms.
As a result, when substances are incompletely oxidized, for instance, during cellular respiration when not enough oxygen is present, hydrogen ions can accumulate.
In biology, the accumulation of hydrogen ions can lead to the formation of hydrogen carbonate when carbon dioxide (CO2) dissolves in water (H2O).
This reaction forms a weak acid that ionizes to yield bicarbonate (HCO3-) and hydrogen ions (H+). This principle is important in the context of physiological processes such as the buffering of blood pH.