Exercise and Blood pH

record data and observation
(one sentence each)
1) what happens to the concentration of lactic acid as workout intensity increases? what happens to blood pH as the concentration of lactic acid increases
2) why do you think the blood pH stayed neutral while the same amount of lactic acid in water was very acidic?
3) summarize the relationship between water, carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, bicarbonate, and hydrogen
4) what happens to excess hydrogen ions when an acid is added to blood
5) what happens to excess OH ions when a base is added to blood

11 answers

Data and Observations

  1. As workout intensity increases, the concentration of lactic acid rises, leading to a decrease in blood pH as lactic acid accumulation occurs.

  2. Blood pH remains neutral despite the presence of lactic acid due to the buffering capacity of blood, which helps to maintain pH homeostasis.

  3. Water, when carbon dioxide dissolves in it, forms carbonic acid, which can dissociate into bicarbonate and hydrogen ions, thus playing a crucial role in regulating blood pH.

  4. When an acid is added to blood, excess hydrogen ions are buffered by bicarbonate and proteins, minimizing the decrease in pH.

  5. When a base is added to blood, excess hydroxide ions react with hydrogen ions to form water, thereby preventing a significant increase in blood pH.

(one sentence)
2) why do you think the blood pH stayed neutral while the same amount of lactic acid in water was very acidic?

The blood pH remained neutral because the bicarbonate buffering system in the blood effectively neutralizes excess hydrogen ions produced by lactic acid, preventing significant changes in pH.

one sentence
3) summarize the relationship between water, carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, bicarbonate, and hydrogen

Water combines with carbon dioxide to form carbonic acid, which can dissociate into bicarbonate and hydrogen ions, thus playing a critical role in the regulation of blood pH and maintaining acid-base balance.

5) what happens to excess OH ions when a base is added to blood
one sentence

When a base is added to blood, excess hydroxide ions (OH⁻) react with hydrogen ions (H⁺) to form water, thereby helping to stabilize the blood pH.

dumb it down

When a base is added to blood, extra OH⁻ ions combine with H⁺ ions to make water, which keeps the blood pH from rising too much.

one sentence each simple
6) summarize how buffers resist changes in pH
7) limestone is made of calcium carbonate. how would you expect the pH of a lake with limestone bedrock to compare to other lakes after several years of acid rain?
8) extra carbon dioxide in the blood is removed by the lungs. how would extra carbon dioxide in a lake be removed
  1. Buffers resist changes in pH by absorbing excess acids or bases, helping to keep the pH level stable.

  2. A lake with limestone bedrock would likely have a higher pH than other lakes after several years of acid rain because the calcium carbonate neutralizes the acid.

  3. Extra carbon dioxide in a lake would be removed by the water's surface as it escapes into the air.