According to the given equation, aqueous carbon dioxide reacts with water to form carbonic acid, Carbonic acid is not stable in normal body temperatures, therefore, it ionizes into bicarbonate ion (HCO3-) and a hydrogen ion (H+) is liberated. The liberation of hydrogen ions decreases the pH. During breathing, oxygen is inhaled which is carried by the blood to the different tissues of the body. Oxygen facilitates the various metabolic reactions occurring inside our cells and helps in respiration, or the generation of energy. Carbon dioxide, formed as a by-product of these energy- generating metabolic reactions, diffuses out of the tissues and into the blood stream, which carries CO2 to the lungs, where it is exhaled out. a) In case of hypoventilation : The exchange of gases that occurs in the lungs while breathing is impaired. Therefore, the requisite amount of carbon dioxide is not being exhaled out. This leads to a build-up of carbon- dioxide in the blood plasma. As a result, the forward reaction is facilitated and more H+ ions are generated. The higher concentration of H+ ions decreases the pH (acidic pH). This can lead to acidosis. The build-up of carbon dioxide in the blood facilitates the forward reaction and therefore the equilibrium shifts to the right. The hydronium ion or H3O+ is the product of a hydrogen ion (H+) and water. Since a hydrogen ion is too small to exist freely in water, it therefore combines with a water molecule to form a hydronium ion which is more stable. In case of hypoventilation, the concentration of H+ ions increase. Therefore, the concentration of hydronium ions increase during hypoventilation. The stress concentration or partial pressure of CO2 during hypoventilation is significantly higher than 40mmHg (around 60-65 mmHg). b) In case of hyperventilation : The breathing rate is more than normal. Therefore, as a result of heavier and faster breathing, the CO2 concentration in the blood rapidly decreases, that is, CO2 easily leaves the blood plasma. Decrease in the CO2 concentration slows down the rate of the forward reaction, reducing the levels at which bicarbonate ion and H+ ion concentration were being generated. The bicarbonate and hydrogen ions recombine to yield CO2 and water. This lowering in hydrogen ion concentration consequently lowers the pH (alkaline pH). This can lead to alkalosis. As a result of the lowering of CO2 , the reverse reaction takes place. The carbonic acid changes back to CO2 and H2O, shifting the equilibrium to the left. The concentration of H3O+ decreases during hyperventilation, since the H+ ion concentration is lowered. The stress levels or partial pressure of CO2 during hyperventilation is significantly lower than 40 mmHg (around 25-30 mmHg). c) If sodium carbonate or Na2CO3 is added instead of sodium bicarbonate, then sodium carbonate would react with water and it would hydrolyse into Na+ and CO32- ions. The CO32- combine with the hydrogen (H) present in water to form H2CO3 (carbon.

1. According to the given equation, aqueous carbon dioxide reacts with water to form carbonic
acid, Carbonic acid is not stable in normal body temperatures, therefore, it ionizes into
bicarbonate ion (HCO3-) and a hydrogen ion (H+) is liberated. The liberation of hydrogen ions
decreases the pH.
During breathing, oxygen is inhaled which is carried by the blood to the different tissues of the
body. Oxygen facilitates the various metabolic reactions occurring inside our cells and helps in
respiration, or the generation of energy. Carbon dioxide, formed as a by-product of these energy-
generating metabolic reactions, diffuses out of the tissues and into the blood stream, which
carries CO2 to the lungs, where it is exhaled out.
a) In case of hypoventilation :
The exchange of gases that occurs in the lungs while breathing is impaired. Therefore, the
requisite amount of carbon dioxide is not being exhaled out. This leads to a build-up of carbon-
dioxide in the blood plasma. As a result, the forward reaction is facilitated and more H+ ions are
generated. The higher concentration of H+ ions decreases the pH (acidic pH). This can lead to
acidosis.
The build-up of carbon dioxide in the blood facilitates the forward reaction and therefore the
equilibrium shifts to the right.
The hydronium ion or H3O+ is the product of a hydrogen ion (H+) and water. Since a hydrogen
ion is too small to exist freely in water, it therefore combines with a water molecule to form a
hydronium ion which is more stable. In case of hypoventilation, the concentration of H+ ions
increase. Therefore, the concentration of hydronium ions increase during hypoventilation.
The stress concentration or partial pressure of CO2 during hypoventilation is significantly higher
than 40mmHg (around 60-65 mmHg).
b) In case of hyperventilation :
The breathing rate is more than normal. Therefore, as a result of heavier and faster breathing, the
CO2 concentration in the blood rapidly decreases, that is, CO2 easily leaves the blood plasma.
Decrease in the CO2 concentration slows down the rate of the forward reaction, reducing the
levels at which bicarbonate ion and H+ ion concentration were being generated. The bicarbonate
and hydrogen ions recombine to yield CO2 and water. This lowering in hydrogen ion
concentration consequently lowers the pH (alkaline pH). This can lead to alkalosis.
As a result of the lowering of CO2 , the reverse reaction takes place. The carbonic acid changes
back to CO2 and H2O, shifting the equilibrium to the left.
The concentration of H3O+ decreases during hyperventilation, since the H+ ion concentration is
lowered.
The stress levels or partial pressure of CO2 during hyperventilation is significantly lower than 40

2. mmHg (around 25-30 mmHg).
c) If sodium carbonate or Na2CO3 is added instead of sodium bicarbonate, then sodium
carbonate would react with water and it would hydrolyse into Na+ and CO32- ions. The CO32-
combine with the hydrogen (H) present in water to form H2CO3 (carbonic acid). The Na+
combines with the -OH of water and forms NaOH. Therefore, this reactions yields a weak acid
and a strong base. The weak acid doesn't dissociate easily, but the strong base readily dissociates
to furnish hydroxide ions (OH-). This increasing concentration of hydroxide ions increase the pH
or turn the solution alkaline.
Since the forward reaction is facilitated as a result of hydroxide ion generation, the equilibrium
shifts to the right.
There is no hydrogen ion generation. Therefore no hydronium ion (H3O+) is not formed.
Solution
According to the given equation, aqueous carbon dioxide reacts with water to form carbonic
acid, Carbonic acid is not stable in normal body temperatures, therefore, it ionizes into
bicarbonate ion (HCO3-) and a hydrogen ion (H+) is liberated. The liberation of hydrogen ions
decreases the pH.
During breathing, oxygen is inhaled which is carried by the blood to the different tissues of the
body. Oxygen facilitates the various metabolic reactions occurring inside our cells and helps in
respiration, or the generation of energy. Carbon dioxide, formed as a by-product of these energy-
generating metabolic reactions, diffuses out of the tissues and into the blood stream, which
carries CO2 to the lungs, where it is exhaled out.
a) In case of hypoventilation :
The exchange of gases that occurs in the lungs while breathing is impaired. Therefore, the
requisite amount of carbon dioxide is not being exhaled out. This leads to a build-up of carbon-
dioxide in the blood plasma. As a result, the forward reaction is facilitated and more H+ ions are
generated. The higher concentration of H+ ions decreases the pH (acidic pH). This can lead to
acidosis.
The build-up of carbon dioxide in the blood facilitates the forward reaction and therefore the
equilibrium shifts to the right.
The hydronium ion or H3O+ is the product of a hydrogen ion (H+) and water. Since a hydrogen
ion is too small to exist freely in water, it therefore combines with a water molecule to form a
hydronium ion which is more stable. In case of hypoventilation, the concentration of H+ ions
increase. Therefore, the concentration of hydronium ions increase during hypoventilation.
The stress concentration or partial pressure of CO2 during hypoventilation is significantly higher

3. than 40mmHg (around 60-65 mmHg).
b) In case of hyperventilation :
The breathing rate is more than normal. Therefore, as a result of heavier and faster breathing, the
CO2 concentration in the blood rapidly decreases, that is, CO2 easily leaves the blood plasma.
Decrease in the CO2 concentration slows down the rate of the forward reaction, reducing the
levels at which bicarbonate ion and H+ ion concentration were being generated. The bicarbonate
and hydrogen ions recombine to yield CO2 and water. This lowering in hydrogen ion
concentration consequently lowers the pH (alkaline pH). This can lead to alkalosis.
As a result of the lowering of CO2 , the reverse reaction takes place. The carbonic acid changes
back to CO2 and H2O, shifting the equilibrium to the left.
The concentration of H3O+ decreases during hyperventilation, since the H+ ion concentration is
lowered.
The stress levels or partial pressure of CO2 during hyperventilation is significantly lower than 40
mmHg (around 25-30 mmHg).
c) If sodium carbonate or Na2CO3 is added instead of sodium bicarbonate, then sodium
carbonate would react with water and it would hydrolyse into Na+ and CO32- ions. The CO32-
combine with the hydrogen (H) present in water to form H2CO3 (carbonic acid). The Na+
combines with the -OH of water and forms NaOH. Therefore, this reactions yields a weak acid
and a strong base. The weak acid doesn't dissociate easily, but the strong base readily dissociates
to furnish hydroxide ions (OH-). This increasing concentration of hydroxide ions increase the pH
or turn the solution alkaline.
Since the forward reaction is facilitated as a result of hydroxide ion generation, the equilibrium
shifts to the right.
There is no hydrogen ion generation. Therefore no hydronium ion (H3O+) is not formed.