01-21-2009, 08:31 AM
How is it that CO2 is transported as bicarbonate if CO2 is considered acidic? Please help. This really confuses me.
Carbon dioxide a bicarb?? help please - drp450
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01-21-2009, 08:31 AM
How is it that CO2 is transported as bicarbonate if CO2 is considered acidic? Please help. This really confuses me.
01-21-2009, 10:11 AM
not sure about yr q., but I am trying to reply to u as I understood ...
CO2 is considered acidic as it gives off a H+ when dissolved in water. the reaction is like this CO2 + H2O = HCO3 which dissociates into H+ and HCO3- by the enzyme carbonic anhydrase ... Since there is not CA in plasma .... all these reaction happens in RBC. once HCO3- is formed ... it diffuses out of the cell in exchange of CL- and is transported to the lung ... where ..HCO3- again goes inside the RBC and the reaction just reverses producing CO2 which diffuses out ....
01-21-2009, 02:55 PM
Great. I think I understand now. Thank you.
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