Question

The body depends on so many different buffer solutions to help maintain the consistant environment your body is conditioned for. Research one of these buffer solutions. Explain the reaction, what the buffer is and how it works within the body

Answer 1

The buffer system involving carbonic acid, bicarbonate ion, and carbon dioxide helps maintain a stable pH level in the human body by reacting to changes in pH and neutralizing excess hydrogen or hydroxyl ions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The body relies on buffer systems to regulate and maintain a stable pH in its fluids, paramount for proper physiological functions. A buffer solution consists of a weak acid and its conjugate base which can neutralize small amounts of acids or bases, thereby maintaining the pH level.

One well-known buffer solution in the human body involves carbonic acid (H₂CO₃), bicarbonate ion (HCO₃), and carbon dioxide (CO₂). This buffer system reacts dynamically to changes in pH; for example, if there is an increase in hydrogen ions causing the pH to drop, bicarbonate ions will bind to the hydrogen ions to form carbonic acid, which can then be converted to carbon dioxide and exhaled, regulating the pH.

This system allows the human body to handle the ingestion of acidic or basic substances without harmful fluctuations in pH levels.