Question

Someone with kidney failure excretes urine with large amounts of${\mathrm{HCO}}_3^{-}$. How would this loss of ${\mathrm{HCO}}_3^{-}$affect the $\mathrm{pH}$of the blood plasma?

Short answer

When${{\mathrm{HCO}}_3}^{-}$ excreted in urine, it rises to a higher level.

So the blood pressure of $\mathrm{pH}$drops.

Step-by-step solution

Step - 1   Introduction

• Text Carbonic acid interacts with water to produce the hydronium ion and ${\mathrm{HCO}}_3^{-}$text.
• The following is the reaction:

${\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{CO}}_3+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)\rightleftarrows {\mathrm{HCO}}_3^{-}+{\mathrm{H}}_3{\mathrm{O}}^{+}$

Step - 2  Explanation

• When more ${\mathrm{HCO}}_3^{-}$is excreted by urine, the equilibrium moves to a higher ${\mathrm{H}}_3{\mathrm{O}}^{+}$.
• The blood$\mathrm{pH}$ drops as a result of this.