Physiology 2130 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Carbonic Acid, Metabolic Acidosis, Venous Blood
2 Mar 2016
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Many chemical reactions in the body are very sensitive to the presence of h+ ions. H+ ions can alter the shape of proteins that act as enzymes any change in the concentration of h+ will affect the activity of almost every cell. Hydrogen atom = single proton [+ve charge], single electron [-ve charge] = electrically neutral element. Hydrogen ion [h+] = single proton [+ve charge], no electron = sometimes just called proton . Acid = any molecule that will release hydrogen ions when put in a solution. Hcl [hydrochloric acid] will break apart into h+ and cl: more free h+, the more acidic the solution. Strong acid will dissociate rapidly and release large amounts of h+ in solution. Base = any molecule that will accept a hydrogen ion. Bicarbonate ions [hco3-] will bind with h+ to form carbonic acid [h2co3] Less free h+, the less acidic [more basic or alkaline] the solution.
