Final answer:
When a student is nervous for an exam and breathing rapidly, it can lead to respiratory alkalosis. The blood becomes overly alkaline due to a deficiency in carbonic acid and CO2 levels. The respiratory system tries to compensate by decreasing the respiratory rate.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a student is nervous for a big exam and breathing rapidly, it is a sign of respiratory alkalosis. This means that the blood is overly alkaline due to a deficiency in carbonic acid and CO2 levels in the blood.
Respiratory alkalosis occurs when too much CO2 is exhaled from the lungs, usually as a result of hyperventilation. It can be caused by factors like extreme emotional upset or fear, fever, infections, or high levels of certain hormones.
In this case, the student's rapid breathing is causing the CO2 levels in their blood to decrease, leading to alkalosis. The respiratory system is trying to compensate for this imbalance by decreasing the respiratory rate to conserve CO2, but it may not be as effective as compensating for acidosis.