Chemistry Buffers Question (1 Viewer)

[SunnyScience]

A carbonic acid/hydrogen carbonate buffer is important in controlling the pH of blood. The normal pH of blood is 7.4. Calculate the ratio of carbonic acid to hydrogen carbonate at this pH give that the pKa for the first dissociation of carbonic acid is 6.35.

With my working out I get 1:11
7.4 = 6.35 + log10([hco3-]/[H2CO3])

But in one of my lecture slides, it says it's normally 1:20 in blood.

Urgent help, please?

 

[wilsondw]

Id reckon we should ignore wht it says on the lecture slides and I know this has been asked on the chem group. Since its the ratio of carbonic acid to hydrogen carbonate u should take the reciprocal instead so it would be 0.008 sumfin. I based my workin out on the link below

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080301194051AAyXJNf

 

[SunnyScience]

Thank you!

 

[SaraJayne]

Is this year 11 and 12 chemistry?

 

[madharris]

Is this year 11 and 12 chemistry?

no. You go into the basics of buffers in year 12 chemistry but that's first year chem